logo
Race Across The World contestant's family 'overwhelmed' by support

Race Across The World contestant's family 'overwhelmed' by support

BBC News08-06-2025
The family of Race Across The World contestant Sam Gardiner have said they are "overwhelmed" by the love and support they have received following his death.Mr Gardiner, 24, who took part in the BBC show alongside his mother Jo, died in hospital following a crash on the A34 near Manchester on 26 May.His family set up a fundraiser in his memory for the National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) charity which has raised more than £10,000. Ms Gardiner said her son had been diagnosed with the condition, which can develop when someone has been exposed to alcohol in the womb, and added: "If some good comes of this tragedy, it will be that FASD is better understood".
"We have been overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of messages of love and support on social media and in comments to press reporting," she said."We would like to thank the BBC, Studio Lambert and everyone at Race Across The World production, fellow contestants and fans of the show for all their support at this terrible time."It has been very comforting to know that Sam touched so many people."
Ms Gardiner said she had been "particularly moved by all the messages that Sam was an inspiration to many who have been impacted by FASD"."We adopted Sam and he was diagnosed with FASD. As viewers of season two will recall, this was a big challenge both for Sam and for us as his parents," she said.But she added that the National FASD charity "helped us on that journey".
The landscape gardener died when his car left the road and rolled before landing on its side on the A34 in Gatley, Cheadle, Greater Manchester Police said.He was the only person in the white Volkswagen Golf R estate and was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries on 29 May.Mr Gardiner and his mother travelled across Mexico and Argentina in the BBC show, broadcast in March 2020.His father Andrew said: "When the news broke last week, friends asked how they could help."After some thought, I decided to set up a JustGiving page to raise money for National FASD in memory of Sam. "The page is called Sam Gardiner; Super Human."He said it was "very humbling to see the Race Around The World family rally to this worthy cause".A message on its official Instagram account said: "Sam lived his life full of love, exuberance and adventure as seen on BBC's Race Across the World. ⁠⁠"National FASD is both humbled and honoured to help carry on his legacy via donations coming from hundreds."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Strictly Come Dancing's George Clarke ‘gives away' who his pro dance partner is weeks before launch
Strictly Come Dancing's George Clarke ‘gives away' who his pro dance partner is weeks before launch

The Sun

time28 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Strictly Come Dancing's George Clarke ‘gives away' who his pro dance partner is weeks before launch

STRICTLY star George Clarke may have accidentally let slip who he's partnered with for this year's series. Typically, it's kept under lock and key who the celebs are partnered with ahead of the launch show – which will air on BBC One in a matter of weeks. 5 5 5 However, in a chat on his podcast The Useless Hotline with Max Balegde, the excited George may have spilled the beans. Explaining the audition process, George revealed that he was partnered with a pro – and rehearsed with her for an hour. "I've not met anyone apart from, I believe her name's Lauren [Oakley], who was the pro that I met," he said. "Because when we had a interview for it, so it's like an hour long interview, and then like an hour long dance session." Lauren has been on the show since 2022, and so far has competed with two stars – Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who placed 8th, and JB Gill last year, taking over from fellow pro Amy Dowden mid-season after she was forced to withdraw due to injury. JB and Lauren made it through to the finals together, but ultimately lost out to Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell. Speaking about the process, George continued that he and Lauren had to perform in front of "two lovely women from the production team that were just sat at what basically looked like a judge's desk". During the audition, George revealed he and Lauren had to learn a jive and a "little Latin number he couldn't remember the name of". However, he later added that he wasn't sure if that practice "had any weight on who he would be partnered with on the main show", revealing the official pairing reveal would be taking place in the upcoming days. George is not the first star to reveal who he was coupled up with during his audition, with Drag Race UK star La Voix admitting that they had performed with Kai Widdrington. They told Daily Star: "I'm casting my net wide. Someone who can lift me up and show me off, that's what I want. Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup IN FULL - including Game of Thrones star & famous YouTuber "I like Kai. Secret inside knowledge: when I did my little dance trial for the show, I had Kai for my audition, so maybe that would be nice. He's a great guy, an amazing teacher." The official partnerships will be revealed during the official launch show, which is pre-recorded and believed to be airing on September 20th. The first live show will then take place a week later, with the no exits during the first two weeks of the competition.

House Party review – home truths about gentrification in east London
House Party review – home truths about gentrification in east London

The Guardian

time28 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

House Party review – home truths about gentrification in east London

In her solo show about the aftermath of gentrification and austerity, Chakira Alin bemoans the rise of costly small plates in restaurants. It's a neat parallel to the housing market, where properties are also getting smaller and more expensive. But Alin's chief metaphor is the 'lost art' of the house party – indicative of her generation's financial crisis and a wider crack in social cohesion. There's no space to throw a decent party or the would-be hosts can't risk trashing their precarious, overpriced rentals or family homes. The argument is put across with brio and evident authenticity on a homely stage decorated with balloons, heart-shaped cushions and a cocktail shaker. Greatly at ease with the audience, Alin plays Skip (smart name for a show about constant upheaval), born and raised in ever-gentrifying east London where she lives with her mum. Skip hearts Hackney, it even says so on her T-shirt, but how have we reached the point where dying in the place you're from may be an unreachable dream? Bitterness is shot through a predominantly buoyant show with some sparkling sequences: Skip fantasising about 'white-pillared Georgians' and other desirable addresses; hitting up RightMove as if it's PornHub; finding that the TV series Skins has sold her a lie, and likening house parties to oceans while nightclubs are swimming pools. Easy gags about gentrification are rife at the Edinburgh fringe but instead Alin gives us an inside perspective and a longer view of familiar issues, anticipating the hollowing-out when gentrifiers move on. The show also occasionally veers into straight standup: 'What do they call French windows in France?' But amid the bubbling humour, the threat of homelessness for Skip and her mum is a constant concern. Alin repeatedly strikes the pose of an analyst, whether explaining why Miley Cyrus's We Can't Stop should be on every playlist or the function of house parties for the Windrush generation. It's two years since Skip left drama school and she gives a lucid account of how her chosen profession is similarly weighted against her, also dominated by those benefiting from inherited wealth. A subplot about a friend who sleeps rough needs deepening, as do a couple of supporting characters. But Alin's plotting displays a skilful sleight of hand and she has charisma to burn in a show packed with home truths about dispossession. At Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, until 25 August All our Edinburgh festival reviews

Tommy Fury is supported by his family at the screening for his new documentary - but Molly-Mae Hague is a no show after he vowed to keep their relationship private
Tommy Fury is supported by his family at the screening for his new documentary - but Molly-Mae Hague is a no show after he vowed to keep their relationship private

Daily Mail​

time28 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Tommy Fury is supported by his family at the screening for his new documentary - but Molly-Mae Hague is a no show after he vowed to keep their relationship private

Tommy Fury was all smiles as he attended the screening of his new documentary, Tommy: The Good. The Bad. The Fury, in Manchester on Tuesday. The boxer, 26, was supported by his parents Chantal and John as well as brother Roman as they posed for sweet family snaps at the event at The Printworks. Notably, Tommy's girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, 26, was missing from the event amid Tommy's vow to keep their relationship private following their recent reconciliation. Staying true to his word, Tommy happily posed for a number of fun solo snaps as he promoted his show at the screening. Dressed to impress, the sportsman donned a sharp grey suit which he teamed with a white shirt, a black tie and black shoes. As well as his family, a host of reality and sports stars turned up to show their support for Tommy, including Love Island's Kaz Crossley who put on a leggy display in a brown mini dress. Notably, Tommy's girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, 26, was missing from the event amid Tommy's vow to keep their relationship private following their recent reconciliation While Emma Walsh looked glam in a white co-ord as she posed with the boxer. Despite putting on a loved-up display in recent Instagram posts, Molly-Mae chose not to attend Tommy's big event. Tommy's new BBC Three series documents his battle with alcohol, as he reveals how it caused him to neglect his responsibilities as a father and partner and ultimately causing his relationship to fall apart. He recently revealed the couple are now the 'happiest they've ever been' after rekindling their romance. The former Love Island stars, who share daughter Bambi, two, shocked fans when they announced their split last August, a year after getting engaged. The couple later reconciled and have enjoyed numerous sun-soaked getaways and appear more loved-up than ever, with Tommy sharing an insight into the months they spent apart in his docuseries. Speaking ahead of the series premiere Tommy reflected on the split, which he said was caused after hand surgery prevented him from getting back in the ring as things went from 'bad to worse' and he ended up getting 'black-out drunk' most nights. 'The injury caused a lot of problems in my life, both inside and outside the ring. But I've come so far and I've done a full turn. I've gone from having nothing in my life: to living in a house alone, going through the toughest time of my life,' Dressed to impress, the sportsman donned a sharp grey suit which he teamed with a white shirt, a black tie and black shoes As well as his family, a host of reality and sports stars turned up to show their support for Tommy, including Love Island's Kaz Crossley who put on a leggy display in a brown mini dress Tommy continued: 'To now having everything back and feeling myself again. I'm back in the gym and back training. I'm back in shape. My family's there and I've come full circle. I couldn't be any happier'. He went on to reveal that the couple have made a big change in their relationship and vowed to keep more of their time together private and away from cameras. 'So, in terms of my family life, everything is private now between me and Molly, and we're in the happiest place possible, And that's all that anyone needs to know!'. He continued: 'Everyone's entitled to a private life and so right now we're going to live our private life, because we haven't had that since we were 19 or 20 years old. It's all been lived out in front of a camera or on the front page of a newspaper. So now, going forward, we're finally going to take that private time'. In the debut episode, he can be seen opening up about his alcohol issues and how it affected his relationship with Molly, admitting that he doesn't blame her for leaving him as he would've done the same. While his dad and boxing trainer, John, reveals that he urged Molly-Mae to leave Tommy, feeling it needed to happen in order to force him to sober up. In quotes obtained by The Mirror, Tommy told John: 'I mean, I probably would've walked away from me too. 'It was a tough moment in my life, but everything happens for a reason. I'm not happy that I went through that, but I'm grateful for the lessons that I've learned, and I don't think I would've known half of what I know about myself if I never went through that.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store