Olly Murs has opened up about the emotional shock of meeting children displaced by the war in Ukraine, drawing parallels to his own daughter as he prepares for a grueling charity challenge. The singer, 41, traveled to Bucharest, Romania, to visit a UNICEF project supporting families forced to flee their homes.
Heartfelt Encounters
Surrounded by dozens of children, Olly reflected on the stark contrast to his own life. He said: "One of the ladies I spoke to had a daughter who was one year and seven months old, which isn't far away from where my daughter Madi is right now, who has just turned two. That was the real shock for me and what really hit home: these are parents like me, and they're really up against it."
Watching families adjust to life away from bombed-out homes, Olly acknowledged his fortune. Back in Brentford, Essex, his wife Amelia and their two children—Madison, known as Madi, and seven-month-old son Albert—await his return.
Parental Perspectives
Olly shared: "As a parent, every day we want to protect our child and make them feel safe in a safe country. Imagine going through that….the thought of having to leave my home with a war going on, trying to keep my children alive and looked after. Not to mention all the stress that your house could be bombed or you could be killed…it’s just overwhelming. Your first thought is to protect your child. They came here with pretty much nothing, just a couple of plastic bags, but they brought their child somewhere safe, which was the right decision."
Meeting the Families
At the Pipera Primero Hub in northern Bucharest—a parenting project in partnership with UNICEF Romania—Olly met Oksana, a former teacher from Ukraine, and her five-year-old daughter Alisa. Since fleeing in 2022, their family home has been destroyed, and their apartment damaged by a missile. Olly recalled: "She had a gut feeling she had to leave, but her parents didn't want to go, so they're still there. Luckily they're okay, but she showed me photos of the building she lived in and it’s harrowing…just a shadow of what it looked like before. Half the building has collapsed. It just hit home that these are real people and real families suffering every single day."
Joy Amidst Hardship
Despite the sorrow, Olly found joy in seeing children "flourishing away from the sound of bombs, sirens, or guns." He added: "It’s upsetting, but at the same time, seeing the kids in the nursery center was brilliant. They were happy and enjoying life again."
The Challenge Ahead
To raise funds for UNICEF, Olly will undertake a 400km challenge marking Soccer Aid's 20th Anniversary. From next Monday, over five days, he will run, row, and ride from Manchester’s Old Trafford to the London Stadium. He admitted: "Doing this challenge was not on my bingo card for 2026, to be honest. In January, I wasn't thinking I'd be doing anything like this, but Soccer Aid approached me and it excited me. I've never done anything like this before."
Facing Fears
Olly, who has a phobia of deep water, will not know his daily discipline until the day. He said: "They've given me very little information, so I'm going into the unknown. But for so many of these families I met, it’s the unknown for them too, not knowing what happens next with the war. Each day on this challenge, I’m going to have to dig deep and think of those families and the kids to drive me on."
He has been assigned a rowing coach and faced an early test on the Thames. "They filmed my first rowing session and I thought it would be at a center or a quiet canal, but I was on the Thames in the middle of London. I'm not a fan of water unless I can touch the ground. Suddenly I'm in this small rowing boat with a couple of oars thinking, ‘This isn't for me.’ But I have to battle my fears."
Overcoming Physical Hurdles
Despite past knee issues, Olly remains determined. "It's going to be tough, but my knee has been great so far. I have good and bad days, but I’ll just have to bite down on my tongue and go through it. It's going to be a battle of mental and physical strength. When the going gets tough and I need that extra 10%, I’ll think of why I’m doing it and the people this money will help."
Following in the footsteps of Sam Thompson, who tackled a similar challenge last year, Olly said: "I saw what Sam did last year and he did an amazing job, even when he did his calf in on the second day. They’ve really upped the levels this year. To do something this big on the 20th anniversary of Soccer Aid feels right. I’ve been part of the family since 2010, though I had to take a few years out because of my knees. I feel fit and strong now….the strongest I’ve ever been. I feel this is the perfect time to leave a real stamp on Soccer Aid and do something historic that people will look back on as epic."
