Sam Thompson on his mammoth 260-mile challenge for Soccer Aid: ‘I’ve got to do something’

This is the year that former Made in Chelsea stars are changing the world – at least a little – by running too many miles, tugging at the nation’s hearts and raising enormous amounts of money for good causes. The country was so moved by Jamie Laing’s five ultramarathons in five days and honest conversations about his mental health that they donated £2.2 million to Comic Relief. Now it’s his friend Sam Thompson’s turn to take on an epic physical challenge for charity.

Thompson is running and cycling 260 miles in five days – approximately 10 marathons – from Stamford Bridge football stadium in London to Old Trafford in Manchester. He’ll weave through football stadiums across the country, running a daily marathon before cycling an average of 30 miles each day. And he’ll take with him the match ball for this year’s Soccer Aid game, all to raise funds to support UNICEF’s work for children worldwide.

“Jamie’s a really good friend of mine. I told him I was doing this. I was like: ‘God, help me.’ He was like: ‘You’re gonna struggle. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’ And it’s gonna be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Me and Jamie are similar. We’re not athletes. We’re not runners. I think that’s why we’ve been asked to do it, because it’s like: ‘Are you actually going to be able to do this?’” Thompson tells the Big Issue.

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Laing’s run in March “opened up an important and timely conversation about mental health” and his “vulnerability throughout the challenge resonated across the country”, says Comic Relief’s chief executive Samir Patel. Laing is one of many UK celebrities who have gone to “extraordinary lengths” to fundraise for charity, with challenges ranging from dancethons to record-breaking Ironmans.

“These challenges bring people together across the country in a special way,” Patel says. “Seeing whole communities root for someone who is completely out of their comfort zone and giving their all to raise money to help others is a fantastic reminder of the power of doing good.”

Celebrity backing can help charities reach new audiences and, if paired with a standout idea, “charity messages can cut through the noise”, as Tillie Corlett at CharityComms explains. That’s Thompson’s hope for his run and cycle – that he can spark conversation about UNICEF’s work.

“I want this to be about UNICEF,” he says. “I have a knack sometimes of being like: ‘Look at me.’ I really don’t want that. This is for UNICEF. I’m a vehicle for conversation. I am going to struggle. I’m going to face my own hurdles, but I’ll be so happy if it always remains about the charity and that is always the focal point. Yes, I’m gonna cry. I am an emotional wreck. But having said that, I can come back to why we’re doing it. This is for the kids.”

Sam Thompson recently went with UNICEF to Guatemala, where only 4% of children have access to early education services in Guatemala, and more than half face chronic malnutrition. The charity has established an early development centre for children under the age of five in Sololá, more than three hours from the capital Guatemala City.

Trained ‘mother volunteers’ in the community run sessions to develop children’s motor and language skills, and they also provide monthly food packages to families. Thompson met Magda, mother to three-year-old Dany, who told him about the difference the centre had made to their lives.

“When Dany – this tiny girl that I met – first went there, she wasn’t very developed. Her communication skills weren’t very good. Her motor skills weren’t great. Fast forward six months, she had completely changed. She was coming over to me, taking my hand. It was like she was the queen. If you ever wanted an example of a success story, that’s it,” Thompson says.

“What UNICEF taught me is that the formative years of a child’s life are so important to their brain development. You can’t get that time back. They’re giving kids the chance to have the best start.”

UNICEF also runs the Juego Limpio football programme for children aged five to 16 in Sololá, giving children a safe place to play and learn from trained coaches.

Thompson admits he felt nervous about his trip to Guatemala. “It was scary. You want people to donate, and you want to do it right. I’ve never done anything like that before, but it’s a huge opportunity to get the word out about what life is like for kids all around the world and the work UNICEF is doing. You don’t want to get it wrong. You want to feel it from the heart.”

Thompson wanted to get more involved with UNICEF after playing in last year’s Soccer Aid game, alongside sporting legends Wayne Rooney, Jill Scott and Gary Neville. He recalls how “massive TVs” were wheeled out to play films from celebrities who had been to visit UNICEF’s projects.

“They’d sent out Martin Compston, Jill Scott and Tom Grennan. Tom’s film really hit me hard. We were all laughing, all buddy-buddy. You get lost in the beauty of Soccer Aid. I’m a massive football fan. I’m a superfan of the celebs. I lost sight of why we were there. Watching Tom’s film, I’ve never been hit so hard. I felt a bit embarrassed. I had lost sight of why we were there.”

It was at that point Sam Thompson knew he wanted to do more to make a difference for UNICEF and the people they support, and he volunteered himself for the mammoth 260-mile challenge to raise funds. But first, the team wanted him to understand their work through the visit to Guatemala.

“I have never felt so connected with a cause before. It was not what you might think. It was about hope and the joy in some of these kids’ eyes. If I’m honest, I thought it was going to be a sad story,” he says. 

“And it wasn’t that at all to me. It was a picture of these kids who are three years old, or 14 years old, however old, and they are happy and have dreams and aspirations and goals. It’s beautiful. They have absolutely nothing but they are so happy, and they are so excited. Imagine what you would be like if they had just a fraction of what we have. They would run the world. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Thompson hopes this will keep him going on his gruelling journey to Soccer Aid 2025, arriving in time for the game on 15 June. “If I can finish it and I’m just a collapsed human being, but the conversation has even slightly got out there, then I’ll be really happy.”

Philip Goodwin, chief executive for UNICEF UK, says that he is “so proud of Sam for taking on this immense challenge” – a first for Soccer Aid at a “crucial time for children”. 

“All over the world, children are facing devastating crises – from cuts to global aid, relentless war and climate change to hunger and disease – threatening their lives, their childhoods and their right to play,” Goodwin adds. 

“Soccer Aid for UNICEF has raised an incredible amount of money for children over the years – £106 million since 2006 – but we can’t stop now. Funds raised will help UNICEF and partners provide life-changing support for a child, like clean water and nutrition, vital vaccinations and education so they can get the best start in life.”

There are plenty who will be cynical about the reality TV star taking on this challenge – and indeed any celebrity putting their name next to a cause without being able to fully understand the depths of poverty faced by people globally – but Thompson is trying his best to engage with the cause and to use his influence and enormous social media following to make a real difference.

“I’m under no illusions. I’ve had an easy life,” Thompson says. “We all know that. I just think I have to do something. I’ve got to do something. You’ve got to just try. This is my World Cup final. Well, hopefully not the final. I hope I can work with UNICEF more. But this is my World Cup.”

Find out how to get behind Sam Thompson and donate to his Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid for UNICEF by visitingsocceraid.org.uk/challenge

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