Frankie Bridge received praise from her pal Una Healy on Wednesday, as her tough trek across the Namib Desert was broadcast during Sport Relief: The Heat Is On.
The Saturdays singer, 31, was shown overcoming panic attacks to complete the gruelling 100-mile trek in searing 40-degree heat as she biked and traversed her way through the unforgiving terrain in a bid to raise money for mental health charities.
And as the special was broadcast on BBC One, Frankie’s bandmate Una was one of the first to share her praise, as she wrote: ‘Watching @FrankieBridge on @sportrelief #gofrankie so proud of her bravery and strength and all for such an amazing cause x.’
Praised: Frankie Bridge (pictured) received praise from her pal Una Healy on Wednesday, as her tough trek across the Namib Desert was broadcast during Sport Relief: The Heat Is On
Frankie joined a host of stars to take on the four-day trek – including Samantha Womack, Nick Grimshaw, Karim Zeroual, Rob Rinder, Louise Minchin, Krishnan Guru-Murthy – to travel to Namibia, with each experiencing their own challenges.
And as Frankie battled through her anxiety to try her best at completing each task, viewers flocked to Twitter to praise her for her efforts.
Sending a message to the star, one fan wrote: ‘I just wanted to say that your grit & determination is so powerful & touching. I can totally relate to the voice that says your rubbish & should give up but you didn’t, well done you for shutting that down!!’
Impressed: Frankie’s The Saturdays bandmate Una Healy took to Twitter to share her thoughts
Proud: As the special was broadcast on BBC One, Una shared that she was ‘proud of her friend’
Struggles: The star was shown battling her way through an anxiety attack as she struggled to get through the first day’s gruelling bike ride
Maximum effort: Despite her battles, the star went on to attempt each day’s task with full effort
Tweeted another: ‘Laughed and cried all the way through #TheHeatIsOn and related to everything @FrankieBridge said! Feel useless myself at the mo but talking about really does help! #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #Anxiety.’
A third viewer said: ‘Well done team. Be proud… Had no idea of your history Frankie so to put yourself through that challenge without the training shown great courage and determination.’
Meanwhile, a fourth viewer revealed that Frankie’s efforts had helped make it easier for them to explain their own battle with anxiety to their family, stating: ‘Your anxiety is exactly how I feel so often.
‘I also cannot stand when things change & I am feeling out of control. I have tried to explain to my daughters & now I can show them this to help me explain properly. Thank you for doing this for such a great cause.’
Sharing their thoughts: And as Frankie battled through her anxiety to try her best at completing each task, viewers flocked to Twitter to praise her for her efforts
Frankie has credited husband Wayne Bridge for his unwavering support as she battled anxiety and depression during the early stages of their relationship.
She had been dating footballer Wayne for little more than 12 months when she admitted herself to The Nightingale Hospital, a private mental health facility and detox unit in central London, in a bid to overcome her issues.
The star previously said the retired sportsman played a huge part in her recovery as she battled to pull herself away from her rock bottom in 2011.
As such, participating in the Sports Relief challenge was personally important to the star, who said during the broadcast: ‘I had a mental breakdown, and then ended up in a psychiatric hospital. I couldn’t cope with life anymore.
Celebrity team: Frankie joined (L-R) Rob Rinder, Nick Grimshaw, Louise Minchin, Samantha Womack, Karim Zeroual, and Krishnan Guru-Murthy on the gruelling trek
Efforts: Impressed viewers extended their praise to the entire team for their tireless efforts
‘I was saying stuff like, “I don’t wanna be here, everyone else would be better off if I wasn’t around.” And I’m still doing things like this challenge to push myself.’
After flying 5,000 to Namibia, in southwest Africa, Frankie and her co-stars were put through their paces, riding on oversized bikes through 37 kilometres of sand on day one, followed on day two by a marathon on foot, climbing the desert gravel plains.
On day three, they tacked 42 kilometres of sand dunes – scaling 19 of the tallest sand dunes in the world, while climbing a cumulative height of 2,000 metres.
Day four saw them jump back on the bikes, as they rode through 25 kilometres of sand dunes to finish at the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck on the Skeleton Coast
Too hot to handle: Broadcaster Nick had to miss out on the second day of the trek, as he succumbed to the extreme conditions due to heat exhaustion
While Rob Rinder was the only person out of the group to successfully (and Louise Minchin only missed out on completing one), the entire group finished the final bike ride after vowing to stick together and not splintering into groups.
Each celeb signed up to the Namibian expedition of epic proportions to help break down the stigma of mental health and raise money for mental health services.
Nick said, on completing the task: ‘There are lots of times in my life where there are things I haven’t wanted to do and I just haven’t done them. This challenge has made us all pull together, I am so glad I did this.’
After having to pull out of the challenge at the end of day one, Nick lamented the situation saying: ‘I’m absolutely gutted not to be with the team today. I was mentally prepared for it but the medical team have decided I need to miss today.
Drained: All of the stars took part trekked across the brutal landscape for four draining days
‘I got pulled by the medic just 2k from the finish line and treated for heat exhaustion. I’d been drinking, eating, resting regularly but it came on so quickly.
‘I feel much better today and I’ll be fine but they have advised that my body needs to recover so I can re-join the challenge.’
The rest of the team trekked on foot through the desert for more than eight hours, battling temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius.
As the team completed the task last month, Rob Rinder said: ‘I am elated, overjoyed and thrilled. It’s a real pleasure and delight to be able to share in this physical and mental challenge that means so much to each person here. I am confident people at home will give generously.’
Congrats! The whole group pushed themselves to the limit and celebrated on the final day
Karim added: ‘That was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also by far my proudest achievement to date.
‘I have grown as a person and I am proud to be playing a small part in helping to raise awareness of the issue of mental health. It feels like a great achievement to finish as there are so many moments where I wanted to throw the towel in.
‘I pushed myself and I will treasure and cherish this experience for ever.’
Actress Samantha said: ‘I am broken physically, my toenails are literally hanging off, bruises all over legs with sunburn. I thought I was coming here to do a physical challenge, but it has given me so much time to think.
The end in sight: They travelled the final 13-mile leg on fat bikes in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, to reach one the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck on the Skeleton Coast
‘It’s been a bit overwhelming, even Krishnan who is used to extreme situations has been in tears. I am beyond proud of what we have all achieved here. I am so happy; my body is broken but my heart is full.’
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise said: ‘I am utterly broken. It’s going to take me a long time to recover from what we have done over the last four days but I am so, so proud of everyone and of our reasons for doing this.’
Krishnan said: ‘We have shown so much courage over the last few days and the group has really surprised me.
‘Every single person has managed pull it out the bag in such extreme circumstances.’
Frankie concluded: ‘It’s been a huge rollercoaster of emotions and I am so happy we reached this point. Raising awareness and funding for mental health issues is what has kept me going every day.’
Joy: Rob Rinder said: ‘I am elated, overjoyed and thrilled. It’s a real pleasure and delight to be able to share in this physical and mental challenge that means so much to each person here’
Challenge: The stars took part in the gruelling challenge, in aid of mental health charities, last month, with the special being broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday night