Emon Choudhury leads Sam Race Across The World tribute run

Emon Choudhury is leading the sam race across the world tribute this weekend, with contestants from every series set to run 10k in Manchester for Sam Gardiner after his death aged 24. The memorial effort turns a TV friendship into a public fundraising event and brings together runners from seasons one to six.

Choudhury said on Breakfast this weekend: "Yeah, I think with Sam, I think when we got together at checkpoints, we sort of let it all loose. So, you know, we experienced such a magical race with him and then, obviously, sad news." He added: "It was actually yesterday, last year, that we found out that he passed away. It hit us all hard, do you know what I mean? Because we had a shared experience, not just myself, but his family, his family and friends. I just wanted to do something for him, I guess."

Manchester Run Lineup

Contestants from all seasons one to six will take part in this Sunday’s Great Manchester Run 10k on behalf of The Christie Charity. Choudhury said: "I managed to get a star-studded cast from, I’ll say star-studded, from Race Across the World, from all seasons one to six."

The scale is unusual for a tribute tied to a single former contestant. Rather than a reunion built around one series, this run pulls in names across the show’s full history, which gives the memorial a wider public reach and a fundraising purpose at the same time.

Sam and Jo on the Road

Gardiner appeared in the 2020 series with his mother, Jo, travelling from Mexico City to Argentina before leaving in episode seven after their funds ran dry. That run ended before the finish, but the pair became fan favourites, and the memory attached to them still has enough pull to mobilize runners four years later.

The 2020 series was won by uncle and nephew Emon and Jamiul Choudhury, which gives this weekend’s tribute a direct link back to the same race that introduced Gardiner to viewers. Harrison Devine, who trekked from Southern Europe to Northern Mongolia with his sister Katie and finished in third place this year, said: "So, like, I vividly remember Sam and the relationship with his mum and how amazing they were and their travels around South America."

Harrison Devine Remembers

Devine also said: "I was a massive fan of [Race Across the World] before going on it myself." He added: "I think [it] was one of the most inspiring stories and series to watch so far. So, yeah, when I got the call about it from Emon, it was a no-brainer. We both loving running as well so it was a perfect combination."

The practical takeaway is simple: the tribute is no longer private grief, it is a live fundraising effort with a date, a distance and a named charity behind it. For viewers who followed Gardiner in 2020, this Sunday’s run is the clearest public response yet to his death on the A34 near Manchester in May last year.