Viewers of Race Across the World burst into tears when little competitor Alfie broke down during a light homage to his mother.
This week, as they travelled from Japan to Lombok against the clock, the distance between leaders and laggards widened when they reached Cambodia.
Teams compete for a £20,000 cash prize by racing 15,000 miles across many countries without smartphones, internet connection, or bank cards.
During their stay in Hoi An, Vietnam, the 20-year-old and his closest buddy Owen paused to light a candle for Alfie’s mother, who died when he was five.
‘I just want that sensation of being able to see her again,’ he heartbreakingly shared, tugging on viewers heartstrings.
Alfie revealed that when nursing him as a newborn, mother found she had a rare and dangerous form of breast cancer, but she had hung on for him.
‘Even though I try not to admit it, I do miss her intensely and I still dream of what was,’ he shared as he broke down in tears after releasing a lantern into the water.
He had added that the lanterns had a special place in his heart because of a ritual his family had started following her passing.
‘When my mum passed away, we set [a lantern] off every year with a message attached so to be able to reignite that would be incredible,’ continued Alfie.
Releasing the lights into the river is considered a manner of paying homage to ancestors, with hundreds scattered serenely across the water among the boats.
He displayed a memory box she had prepared for him before her death, saying that she had only six weeks to live but was determined to see him start school.
Alfie added: ‘She said “Well if I’m going to die, I’m at least going to die while he’s in school.” So she managed to take me to school on the first day, I think this was a very proud day for her.’
After this triumph, his mum had a rapid deterioration and had ‘pushed it as far as she could’ before dying in Christmas of 2008.
Releasing his lantern into the water, Alfie choked up and let out a sob as he was ‘inundated with emotions’ he hadn’t felt ‘since [he] was a little kid’.
Viewers were deeply moved by the moment as his explanation of the lanterns touched their hearts, with cries of ‘Oh Alfie’ flooding X.
‘And now I’m crying,’ wrote Cez as Ryan Glendenning added: ‘Really want Alfie to win now after opening up about his mum.
‘He deserves this and his mum would be proud of him. He’s gone through so much!’
‘Oh Alfie my love! This is terrible. So sad ,’ wrote Sarah Lawson while Ryan Love shared: ‘Alfie has absolutely broken me .’
Well that was unexpected…Alfie losing his mum so young -no lad, don’t get a grip it’s good to have a greet #RaceAcrossTheWorld pic.twitter.com/Qq1ErwrJQd
— Lindsay Robertson (@linzirob) April 24, 2024
So happy for Alfie & Owen. This will be the boost they need after Alfie opened up about his mum. . #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Ryan Glendenning (@RyanTheSoapking) April 24, 2024
Alfie is such a sweetheart. His mum is definitely watching over him and guiding him through this. #RaceAcrossTheWorld
— Amy Joanne (@AmyJoanne__) April 24, 2024
‘No what the hell this has me in tears,’ shared Ellie of the heart wrenching moment which could have lost the boys precious time.
Alfie and Owen eventually gained first place on the stretch and arrived safely at the Cambodian checkpoint, perhaps with the former feeling a bit lighter.
Race Across The World continues on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Source My Celebrity Life.