Latest news with #enduranceChallenge
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Plumber to sail round world to mark 60th birthday
Bob Brown had long held a desire to take part in what is described as the world's toughest endurance it was not until deciding how to mark his 60th birthday in March that he decided to take the plunge and join Brown, from Leicester, had initially planned a trip to Australia to watch the British and Irish Lions rugby tour but said he could not justify the cost on a "lads' trip away".Instead, the plumber has signed up to be a crew member in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a 40,000 nautical miles (74,080km) challenge which starts in Portsmouth at the end of August. The 10 participating crews in the race will make six ocean crossings and call into 14 ports across the globe as part of the 11-month Brown, who is originally from Northern Ireland, said he had planned to watch the Lions after going on tour 20 years added: "I looked at the cost and I suppose if you chuck everything in, it would be about £20,000, and I thought 'can I justify spending £20,000 on what was a rugby tour? A lads' trip away'. "I've followed the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from afar for quite a long time and my inbox was getting bombarded with information from Clipper and I thought 'that would be something to tell the grandkids about'." The race, crewed mainly by non-professional sailors, was founded 30 years ago by Sir Robin complete four weeks of training ahead of the race, in which each paying crew will be accompanied by a fully-qualified skipper and first being selected, Mr Brown, who considered himself a novice sailor before joining up, said he thought he had "one chance" to take part in the challenge. He added: "It has always been an itch, an adventure I wanted to do. And now things have aligned with family and work. "I am of a certain age where I may not be able to do it in a few years, so now was the ideal opportunity."
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sam Thompson breaks down in tears as he's comforted by sister Louise after completing 260-mile run on This Morning
SAM Thompson broke down in tears and was comforted by his sister Louise after completing his endurance challenge live on today's This Morning. Made in Chelsea star Sam, 34, had been tackling the 260-mile feat on both bike and foot in aid of Unicef ahead of Monday's Soccer Aid. 1 On-hand to capture his finish line victory, ITV cameras saw him choke up while reuniting with his loved ones after his time away from home.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sam Thompson left gobsmacked as he's surprised by huge Hollywood A-lister during his 260-mile endurance challenge
SAM Thompson has been given a huge boost during his 260-mile endurance challenge after being surprised by a massive A-lister. The telly and radio star, 34, was left screaming with amazement after receiving some words of encouragement from the Hollywood actor. 6 6 Sam had called in for a pitstop on Thursday morning to chat to Colson Smith live on This Morning. But before continuing on his way, Sam - who has torn his calf muscle - was given the ultimate lift. Orlando Bloom spoke to the former Made In Chelsea star live from the This Morning studio - and Sam was gobsmacked. Realising who was speaking to him, Sam began yelling and attempting to jump up and down with his painful legs. He then listened open-mouthed as Orlando gave him some encouraging words as he nears the end of his gruelling Unicef challenge for Soccer Aid. The British actor, who has starred in blockbuster movies Lord Of The Rings and Pirates Of The Caribbean, told Sam: "We are so proud of you, mate! "It's amazing what you are doing. You're in the home stretch, we're all pulling for you. "Like you, I have seen the work Unicef do in the field, it's amazing. "You're a hero, everyone donating is a hero. I'm going to throw some at you as well. I hope it helps. "You are remarkable. I only wish I could find time to come out and see you and cheer you over the line. Sam Thompson breaks down in tears and is comforted by Pete Wicks as disaster strikes on 260-mile endurance challenge "But it's incredible what you're doing and Unicef, as an ambassador for many years, we are so grateful for all the women and children's lives around the world you're changing. "Congrats, mate. We're pulling for you." Sam screamed: "Oh my god, Orlando Bloom!" Orlando - who has been an ambassador for Unicef since 2009 - said the exchange "brought a tear to his eye". Sam is on the penultimate day of his five-day Match Ball Mission. He has been tasked with transporting the Soccer Aid ball 260-miles from Stamford Bridge in London to Old Trafford in Manchester. Sam is running and cycling the journey and aims to complete it on Friday June 6. On Wednesday, the former I'm A Me Out Of Here! star broke down in tears as he was surprised by Pete Wicks. In a heartwarming clip, Pete could be seen waiting for his best pal as he approached him on his run. Sam was seen limping due to his calf injury and, upon seeing his BFF, he burst into tears. Pete pulled him in for a hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek. 'You all right? Come here. It's alright,' Pete said to Sam. The tearful reality star replied: "I didn't know you were coming." Struggling to compose himself, Sam said that he didn't think he was "smashing it". Sam is completing the challenge in support of Soccer Aid, which takes place on Sunday June 15. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jamie Laing gives sweet message of support to best pal Sam Thompson during his 260-mile endurance challenge - after Made In Chelsea star's own gruelling charity marathon
surprised his close pal Sam Thompson with a motivational facetime call as he prepares for day four of his 260-mile endurance challenge. The I'm A Celeb star, 34, who is taking part in a Soccer Aid Challenge and has raised over £604,000 so far, received a sweet message of support from his former Made In Chelsea co-star. After suffering in his own gruelling charity marathon, Jamie, 36, knew exactly how Sam was feeling as he approached the half way mark. The BBC Radio 1 presenter had the whole nation behind him as he ran 30 miles for five consecutive days across the country in March, raising an incredible £2.3m. 'It's day three baby, it's the worst. It's the worst', Jamie laughed. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Sam screamed: 'I can't move man! My Leg!' Jamie said: 'Listen, I've been there. I know how hard it is and your body is screaming for you to give up. Every single moment, you just keep going. 'One foot in front of the other, you don't stop.' Sam teared up: 'Seeing your face just then has literally just made my day. I remember watching you doing your runs and being like your an inspiration man. 'The fact that you're just giving me your energy and your time man, I'm so grateful.' Jamie said: 'You're doing the best thing ever, you're doing it for the best cause. Let's keep going, I adore you, I love you, everyone's behind you, you're the greatest.' 'You got this Sam!', Jamie's wife Sophie Habboo cheered in the background. To complete the challenge, Sam is expected to run a marathon for five days and cycle in between, ensuring the ball arrives on June 6, just in time for kickoff on Sunday, June 15. Day three saw him set off from Villa Park, Birmingham and pass through Walsall, Cannock, Stafford and Stone on his way to Vale Park in Stoke-on-Trent. Pete Wicks hilariously parodied Sam's ex Zara McDermott 's famous 'you can!' moment from Made In Chelsea as he supported him on his challenge on Wednesday. Sam was surprised by Pete during the latest segment where he held up a sign and shouted to his pal. The 'you can!' refers to a now iconic Made In Chelsea scene where Zara begs for Sam back after cheating on him during her time on Celebrity X Factor in 2019. Zara and Sam then split for good earlier this year - with the former Love Island now moving on with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. In a video shared on Pete and Sam's Staying Relevant podcast TikTok page Pete is seen screaming 'you can!' at Sam - sending him into fits of giggles on his bike. The sign read: 'You can do it... YOU CAAAN!' as Pete shouted it in the same tone that Zara had as she insisted that Sam could forgive her for her infidelities all those years ago. Earlier in the day Sam broke down in tears as pal Pete surprised him to mark half way of his 'intensely painful' challenge. Sam, who sustained a 'significant' injured his calf earlier in the week, threw his arms around his friend, 37, before telling MailOnline the reunion 'made his day'. As Pete strolled up, Sam became overwhelmed to see the friendly face amid day three of him cycling and running another whopping 49 miles. The TV star has been given the task to travel a mammoth 260-mile journey on both bike and foot to deliver the match ball to its new home in Old Trafford, with the hope of raising much-needed funds for Unicef. He told MailOnline: 'Seeing Pete half way made my day. The pain is so intense but this has put a smile on my face'. Before adding: 'Please donate if you can, I'm so grateful for all the support'. Before setting off on Monday, Pete shared a gushing tribute to his pal on Instagram writing: 'Tomorrow this man embarks on a mental and physical challenge for an amazing cause @Unicef.' 'Mate I couldn't be prouder of you as a friend, a brother and as a man. You are gonna push yourself to the limit and I can't wait to watch you complete this f**king mammoth task. 'I know how much work you've put in and I know you're doing it for the right reasons'. Before setting off on Monday, Pete shared a gushing tribute to his pal on Instagram writing: 'Tomorrow this man embarks on a mental and physical challenge for an amazing cause' He continued: 'Just so you know, you're doing it with every single one of your friends and family right behind you. I hope the nation follows your journey and helps you along the way in donations and support. You are an inspiration to me and many others and I admire the man you've become this year more than any other year I've known you. Good luck brother, you've got this' Still battling forwards with an injured calf and given the green light by the medical team, the reality star was determined to complete the challenge. He said: 'This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I now have to accept that I've done damage to my calf and running is very difficult'. 'But I can and will carry on, not matter what, on two feet and two pedals, I'm still going to get there and get across the finish line on Friday. It's just going to be longer, harder but my reason for doing it still hasn't changed. I really hope people are digging deep for UNICEF, seeing what I'm trying to do and are getting behind this challenge.' Speaking about Sam's injury, on the road physio, Gary Lewin said: 'Sam has got a significant injury to his calf. We tried to take the weight off of it yesterday by giving him a bike day and in the afternoon he said it felt better, so we tried a bit of walking'. 'He can't put much weight on it. My advice today is we're going to start out with a walk today and then cycle and see how we get on. He's in safe hands and medical advice is he can continue'.
The Sun
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sam Thompson breaks down in tears and is comforted by Pete Wicks as disaster strikes on 260-mile endurance challenge
SAM Thompson today broke down in tears and was comforted by Pete Wicks as he continued his 260-mile endurance challenge. The much-loved TV and radio star, 34, is aiming to complete the gruelling feat on both bike and foot in aid of Unicef - but has been hit by disaster. 6 6 6 6 Former Made In Chelsea star Sam revealed that he has suffered a calf injury while running, which has hindered him. Not one to quit, the I'm A Celebrity champ has continued the huge challenge, which is due to end on June 15, in Manchester. Sam - who is dating Love Island star Samie Elishi - was originally meant to run the massive distance, but now he is using a bike a while. However, due to his injury, and also the enormity of the challenge, Sam broke down today when he was reunited with his best friend Pete Wicks along the way. The emotional moment was shared on the pair's Staying Relevant podcast Instagram handle. In a heartwarming clip, Pete can be seen waiting for his pal as he approached him on his run. Sam was seen limping slightly due to his injury, but upon seeing his BFF, he burst into tears. Pete then pulled him in for a hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek 'You all right? Come here. It's alright,' Pete said to Sam. The reality star then replied: "I didn't know you were coming." Sam Thompson reveals injury as disaster strikes during challenge Pete then said: 'Of course I'm coming, do you think I'd miss this? Come on, I'm so proud of you. Look how proud I am. You're smashing it." Struggling to compose himself, Sam said that he didn't think he's "smashing it". Pete immediately rushed to comfort his pal, and said: 'You are smashing it, are you still going? There you go, you're smashing it. Come on, you're all right. You're good. 'You're the guy before you started, you're the guy now and you're going to be the guy when you finish. You got this." 6 6 Sam kicked off his enormous challenge on Monday (June 2). He aims to run a marathon a day, as well as cycle, until June 15, when he arrives at Old Trafford for Soccer Aid. The challenge is helping support UNICEF's mission to help children worldwide grow up safe, healthy and able to play.
