Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah preps Sam Thompson for epic endurance challenge in ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF

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Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah preps Sam Thompson for epic endurance challenge in ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF

TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has joined forces with the four-time Olympic Gold Medallist Sir Mo Farah for an intense afternoon of training and expert advice ahead of mammoth 260-mile endurance challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF

  • “I’m going to be honest, it won’t be easy… your body is going to be in a mess” – with less than two weeks to go, the decorated athlete delivered some home truths on how tough the challenge will be and offered motivation to get Sam across the finish line
  • With Sir Mo’s professional guidance, from Monday 2 June, Sam will deliver the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge in London, to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford in Manchester
  • The nationwide challenge will see him take on five back-to-back endurance days – running five marathons and over 130 miles by bike – each day more intense than the last and ending at football stadiums across the country
  • Sam’s challenge will raise vital funds to support UNICEF’s work for children around the world to grow up safe, healthy and able to play
  • Across the week, fans can track Sam’s progress with daily live updates as he joins his This Morning family and Hits Radio team live each day, whilst the colossal challenge will also be captured for a one-off special ITV1 primetime documentary
  • For more information and to donate to Sam’s challenge visit socceraid.org.uk/challenge
  • This year, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation will double every donation made to Soccer Aid for UNICEF – up to £5 million

TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has teamed up with Olympic gold medallist and Soccer Aid for UNICEF stalwart Sir Mo Farah ahead of his ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF.

Sam, who will be undertaking five back-to-back endurance days of running and cycling in less than two weeks, met with the celebrated Olympian at the ‘Sir Mo Farah’ Athletics Track in Twickenham for an afternoon of intense training and much-needed expert advice.

From Monday 2 June, Sam will embark on the toughest physical journey of his life: as he  transports the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball more than 260 miles from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge in London, to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford in Manchester – all to raise vital funds to support UNICEF’s work for children around the world.

With Sir Mo’s professional guidance, Sam is set to run a marathon a day, before taking to two wheels and finishing each gruelling day at an iconic football stadium. All in a bid to ensure the match ball is delivered ahead of this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF kick-off on Sunday June 15.

To help Sam prepare for this mammoth journey, who better to offer some sound advice than his Soccer Aid for UNICEF teammate Sir Mo Farah: four-time Olympic gold medallist, and the current World Best for the one hour run.

In a video clip of the meeting, released today, Sam said: “Today is a huge day as I’m meeting Sir Mo Farah. To be honest with you I’m hoping to get a slither, just a slice of experience.” 

Sam shared his nerves for the challenge and took the opportunity to get some pointers, before Mo took Sam to the athletics track and put him through his paces in an intense running session. Mo didn’t hold back in sharing some home truths with Sam on how tough this challenge would be.

Mo said: “Your body is going to be a mess, I’m going to be honest with you – you’ll be fatigued, have muscle soreness. After my first marathon I couldn’t walk up the stairs. What you’ve taken on isn’t easy – you’re running a marathon a day and more.” 

When Sam asked Mo for his expert advice on how to get through this mammoth challenge, Mo reflected on his time at the Rio Olympics and shared how his children keep him personally motivated.

Mo said: “When I question myself, I try and think, ‘If I’ve been away from my kids (Aisha, Armani, Hussein, Rhianna) for weeks, months, I’m not going to let them down. I’m going to give it everything I can’. And even in Rio I remember promising my daughter I’d get her an Olympic medal, because all my medals have my kids engraved on them. I promised her in Rio that I was going to win her a gold medal, and I fell over, went down, and in that moment, I thought the race is over, I can’t do it. 

“Then I thought back that I’d promised my daughter. That’s what got me through. The moments when you doubt yourself, you’ve always got more than you think you have and know why you are doing it and the purpose, and that by completing this challenge it’s going to change so many people’s lives.”

Sam has been inspired to go the distance and raise as much money for children as he can, following his recent trip to Guatemala to see UNICEF’s work and the vital difference funds raised can make helping children grow up safe, healthy and able to play.

The public will be able to follow Sam’s journey with daily coverage from Monday June 2 on ITV’s This Morning, where he regularly appears as part of the This Morning family, and Hits Radio for daily updates and check ins – sharing in his determination and pain points as he battles the road. Then, finishing on Friday 6 June, Sam will deliver the match ball live on ITV’s This Morning, before a week to rest and recover, ready for the upcoming celebrity match on Sunday 15 June and all in aid of UNICEF.

The mammoth mission will also be captured for a one-off special documentary on ITV1: Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission, airing in the lead up to Soccer Aid for UNICEF, produced by Initial TV (a Banijay UK company).

This Soccer Aid for UNICEF campaign, every donation received will also be doubled – up to £5 million – thanks to the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), which will go directly towards the Child Nutrition Fund, tackling challenges such as severe forms of malnutrition and anemia and helping children to get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy and able to play.

Supporting Sam on the road during his challenge is partner Suzuki, who will be providing vehicles to transport equipment and Sam’s support teams.

Sam and Sir Mo will also be returning to play in this year’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF match, which will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Sunday June 15.

To find out more and to donate to UNICEF and Sam’s Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid challenge now, visit socceraid.org.uk/challenge

 

ENDS

For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Georgia Jackson, UNICEF UK Media Manager: [email protected]  / [email protected]k or call + 44 (0)207 375 6030

Download video & photos here 

Notes to Editors

Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid for UNICEF – Challenge route:

Day 1: Stamford Bridge to Milton Keynes

Day 2: Milton Keynes to Villa Park

Day 3: Villa Park to Vale Park

Day 4: Vale Park to Goodison Park

Day 5: Goodison Park to Old Trafford

Soccer Aid for UNICEF

  • Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 will take place on Sunday 15th June at Old Trafford, Manchester and will be shown live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player
  • Since 2006, Soccer Aid for UNICEF has raised over £106 million, all supporting UNICEF’s vital work around the world working with families, communities and partners so that children can grow up safe, healthy and able to play.
  • Right now, children around the world are facing devastating crises – from global aid cuts, war and climate change to hunger and disease – threatening their childhoods and their right to play.
  • The money raised from this year’s campaign could help UNICEF provide life-changing support for a child, like clean water and nutrition, vital vaccinations, or the opportunity to learn, so every child can get the best start in life.
  • Donations are open for Sam Thompson’s Match Ball Mission – for more information and to donate, visit itv.com/socceraid
  • Soccer Aid for UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.

SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF PARTNERS

Soccer Aid Productions Limited

The multi-stakeholder project of Soccer Aid for UNICEF is run by Soccer Aid Productions, a collaboration between UNICEF UK and Triple S Events which is part of the Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group.

UNICEF UK

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, UNICEF work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. It also promotes and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. It is a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.

ITV Social Purpose

ITV entertains and connects with millions of people globally, reflecting and shaping culture with brilliant content and creativity. This gives us a great opportunity to change ITV for the better and inspire positive change in the wider world. ITV’s social purpose encompasses four priorities: Mental Wellbeing, Better Futures, Diversity & Inclusion and Climate Action.

For more information, please visit: itvplc.com/socialpurpose

Initial

Initial, part of Banijay UK, has been the producer of all 13 Soccer Aid shows since its inception in 2006. Experienced in making premium entertainment and ambitious reality programmes, credits include hit shows such as Celebrity Big Brother (ITV), Big Brother (ITV), Last One Laughing (Prime Video), 99 To Beat (ITV), Total Wipeout and Tenable.

Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group

The Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group is a full-service sports and entertainment group operating in multiple industry sectors and countries. As a long-standing and expert agency with highly experienced personnel, it offers a range of services, including: talent management, event management, commercial rights exploitation, financial & legal advice, PR consultancy, social media & digital production, contract, transfer & negotiation management and crisis management services. The Group represents some of the highest-profile sporting professionals in the UK, as well as renowned personalities in the entertainment industry. Triple S has also been responsible for some of the biggest sports entertainment TV events in the UK.

About Children’s Investment Fund Foundation

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is an independent philanthropic organisation headquartered in London with offices in Nairobi, New Delhi, Beijing and Addis Ababa.  CIFF works with a wide range of partners seeking to transform and empower the lives of poor and vulnerable children and adolescents in developing countries, with the ultimate goal of solving seemingly intractable challenges to ensure all children and adolescents have the chance to survive and thrive. For more information please visit www.ciff.org