AN ultra-runner has pledged to complete 74 ultramarathons in 74 days in honour of his mum.
Sam King, 31, from Frinton, is taking on the colossal challenge as a tribute to his mum, Penny, who suffered a brain injury earlier this year.
The mum-of-four spent 29 weeks in hospital after enduring a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding on the brain's surface.
Sam, who recently moved back to Frinton to be closer to his mum, hopes to raise £74,000 for Headway, a brain injury association.
Recalling the day of the injury, Sam said: "We were having a normal morning. We enjoyed taking our coffees out.
"I went upstairs, and mum was falling to the ground.
"I held her and called 999. It was the worst day of my life."
Doctors did not believe Penny would survive, but she pulled through.
Sam, who five years ago was severely overweight and addicted to gaming, has now quit his management consulting job to focus on running.
He was 18th overall and the first Brit to cross the finish line on the last day when he first did the event in 2022.
In 2024 he went back and placed third overall.
Helen Craig, fundraising manager at Headway UK, said: "We are immensely grateful for Sam’s dedication and efforts in taking on this huge challenge for Headway.
"One ultramarathon is no mean feat, let alone 74 consecutively.
"Every pound raised helps us continue to improve life after brain injury."
Sam added: "I can’t stress enough how incredible my mum is.
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"She’s always been my best friend in the whole world.
"I’ve seen first-hand how difficult it is when a loved one sustains a brain injury, and how much help people really need.
"Every mile I run is for my mum. And every bit of support will help others like her."
You can donate to Project 74 at: http://givestar.io/gs/project-74.
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