Charles Esther
Sam Thompson became emotional on live television during his appearance on This Morning on Wednesday.
The former Made In Chelsea star, aged 32, is currently undertaking his Match Ball Mission, which involves walking and cycling 260 miles to raise money for UNICEF.
While giving an update live from Bloxwich with presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, Sam fought back tears after sharing the news of a painful calf injury.
His close friend Pete Wicks, 37, joined the segment to reveal that Sam had raised an incredible £337,288.26 so far for the charity.
Pete asked Sam how he was feeling about the huge amount raised, to which Sam responded emotionally, almost swearing before quickly stopping himself.
He said, “I’ve got to stop crying. I’m so grateful. It’s for such an amazing cause. UNICEF and everything they do, it’s so amazing.”
Ben Shephard praised Sam for holding back from swearing live, joking that he had clearly taken on board their earlier conversation.
Cat Deeley then shared exciting news that an anonymous donor would match all donations up to half a million pounds.
Sam was overwhelmed by this announcement, screaming with joy live on air, while Cat urged him not to swear.
Despite the heartfelt moment, some viewers on X (formerly Twitter) questioned the authenticity of Sam’s tears, with comments ranging from “not a single tear” to accusations of “performative” emotion.
Conversely, many others expressed their support on Instagram and other social media platforms, praising Sam for his determination and wishing him well.
Messages included, “So proud of you!!!!” and “You’re doing great, Sam. Hope your calf is not too painful. Well done!”
The emotional moment came after Sam faced tough weather conditions on day two of his Soccer Aid Challenge, where he is expected to run a marathon each day for five days, cycling between runs.
Sam revealed that after “popping his calf,” he was strapped to a medical table but decided to cycle the remaining miles of his challenge.
To boost his spirits, fellow reality star Chris Hughes joined Sam on the bike and encouraged supporters to donate, calling Sam’s efforts “seriously inspiring.”
Chris shared clips of their ride on Instagram Stories and highlighted how Sam was pushing through despite the pain.
On another update shared by Hits Radio, Sam described his injury while on the phone, saying, “I’m just sat on the table. I’ve got Game Ready on, which is like a bucket ice machine. We completed a marathon. It was going great until my calf popped. I don’t really know what that means but something has happened. So I can barely walk on it. But we completed the marathon and we are going to do the bike in a bit. Let’s see how that goes.”
Sam Thompson’s emotional display and determination have touched many, as he continues his tough but inspiring journey to raise vital funds for UNICEF.
