Exclusive: Sam Thompson, a hero of the UNICEF Soccer Aid team, will likely complete his emotional Facetime with his sister Louise and an open letter to the Mirror about how much it means to him.
Dosed up on painkillers, his body falling apart and always close to tears, Sam Thompson’s 260-mile Soccer Aid challenge has been no plain sailing.
The 32-year-old former Made in Chelsea star can barely walk after torn his calf, and is expected to finish the five-day challenge today.
When Sam felt a pop in his calf just before the day one of the marathon, disaster struck. He claims that the situation was immediately bad. I was unable to walk on it or use a lot of weight. I just cried as I contemplated how to complete this challenge. I constantly think about letting people down. ”
He had to ride the bike for longer the following day to allow for the healing of his calf. However, incredibly, despite the discomfort of watching, he is now back on his feet.
He claims, “I’m really strapped up, but I think it’s getting worse.” Other body parts are starting to creak as a result, and I’m reducing this. My ankles are now bent, which causes my knees to bend as I run on my tiptoes. I’m just making an effort to avoid thinking about it. ”
It has been difficult, especially for sister Louise, 35, to watch a man who has a TV persona like a puppy who runs around in pain as he stomps off each morning.
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She told him in an emotional Facetime call yesterday, “You’ve been through a very tough six months, you’ve obviously been through this horrendous break-up, and to throw yourself into something that is helping so many other people is just incredible. ”
Sam split from Love Island star Zara McDermott after five years but is focused on raising money for Unicef and has smashed the £1million mark.
He acknowledges that a year has definitely changed, but I feel absolutely honoured to do something I’ve never done before and to put myself in this. If the year comes to an end, it will definitely continue onward and upward. ”
Sam faced spells of torrential rain on an extended bike ride on day two, as well as his inner demons. He has been very open about his mental health, including a late autism diagnosis. But a succ-ession of famous friends have lifted his spirits on the journey from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge to Manchester Utd’s Old Trafford to deliver a match ball ahead of the Soccer Aid game next Sunday. TV hosts Josie Gibson, Chris Hughes and Jamie Laing have supported him during the dark times. But his reunion and pep-talk with best mate Pete Wicks is especially spurring him on.
He claims, “I am completely blown away by the generosity of people.”
“It’s all going to Unicef’s work for kids around the world. I’ve seen it firsthand and know the difference it will make.”
Setting off yesterday on day four from Vale Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Sam was expected to cover 57 miles, passing through Sandbach, Middlewich, Ellesmere Port, The Wirral, and Birkenhead before heading to Goodison Park in Liverpool. He will have the advice of running Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah uppermost in his mind.
Source: Mirror
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