The BBC's annual Rickshaw Challenge will see Matt Baker MBE and a team of five inspiring young people, all of whom have been supported by BBC Children in Need funded projects, take on a relay-style ride over five days this October.

Each rider will take a section of the journey, travelling through their hometowns and visiting places across the UK which hold a particular significance for them along the way.

Sanna Ahmad, 20 from Birmingham will be joining Matt Baker on the challenge when it travels from Birmingham to Kenilworth on Thursday 20 October and the charity is encouraging members of the public to come out and show their support.

The return of the Rickshaw Challenge was announced earlier this week, and this morning (Saturday 8 October) the challenge's Rickshaw Riders were announced live on BBC Breakfast.

The Rickshaw Relay will take place between Monday 17 October and Friday 21 October and this year, in a first for the challenge, BBC Breakfast will be live with Matt Baker MBE and the team every morning from 6am where the public will be able to follow their journey. 

The challenge will then be broadcast in a documentary, The Rickshaw Relay Rides Again, on BBC One on Tuesday 15 November.

Sanna Ahmad, 20 from Birmingham will join Matt Baker on day four of the challenge to Kenilworth (Image supplied)

This one-off special, will not only share the team's remarkable stories but also celebrate the history of the much-loved BBC Children in Need staple, while at the same time raising life-changing money for the charity, as part of its 2022 Appeal.

Sanna Ahmad has lived with an inherited blood disorder, called Thalassemia all her life.

It means there's less haemoglobin in her blood, which is needed to carry oxygen around the body. 

Every four weeks Sanna spends a day in hospital having a blood transfusion, without this she would become anaemic and extremely tired.

Although not outwardly visible, Thalassemia impacts heavily on day-to-day life. As a child Sanna often found herself too tired to join in with activities or be able to fully participate in school life. And until now, has never ridden a bike.

At 12 years old she was introduced to OSCAR Birmingham, a project supporting children with Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia and is funded by BBC Children in Need. 

Here Sanna was able to meet others like her and get the support she needed.  Now aged 20, Sanna is still at OSCAR to mentor younger children, giving the same support back that she once received. She has also become inspired to train as a child nurse.

Matt Baker has taken part in the annual Rickshaw Challenge for the past 12 years (Image supplied)

Matt Baker, who has ridden on the Rickshaw Challenge for the last 12 years, said: "I am so excited to get back on the road again. This is the highlight of my year and I can't wait for you to meet this group of riders who all have their own inspiring stories to tell.

 "We'd love to have your support on the road this year, but if you can't make it please tune in and watch us on BBC Breakfast every morning, and when the documentary airs on 15 November.

"We know it's a challenging year for everyone, but if you're able to donate, it would be greatly appreciated and it will make a huge difference to the lives of children and young people all over the UK."

In a twist this year, a sixth day of the challenge will be held at Silverstone with members of the public invited to come and cycle alongside the rickshaw and clock up as many miles around the world famous racing track as possible to raise money for BBC Children in Need.