When a brain injury ended David “Jacko” Jackson’s professional rugby career in 2013, it changed his life forever. But it did not put him off seeking new challenges – and he has now set his sights on a fundraising world record.

Former Nottingham player David and his wife Catherine had been married for less than two months when he had a seizure on the training field and suffered a bleed on the brain.

The 44-year-old says the first six months post-injury were particularly difficult as he “wasn’t the person that she married, it was a very difficult period”.

He is attempting to run 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days to raise awareness and funds for two brain injury charities – Headway UK and Head for Change – and hopes to set a record in the process.

Speaking in Harrogate during the Yorkshire leg of his challenge, David says he had a difficult recovery.

“It took a number of months,” he says.

“I wasn’t making any progress, I wasn’t getting any better.

“It took a whole year, really, to get back to getting back on my feet. Initially we were just hoping that you could live a normal life again.”

 

He says he did not know about the brain injury charities during his recovery, when he needed them most.

“We want to change that awareness so that nobody has to go through that on their own, they can use the support of the charities.

“Everyone’s brain injury is different and everyone’s recovery is going to be different.”

David says he feels fortunate to have come so far since his injury.

“We want to try and show people that there can be something positive that comes after a brain injury.

“And just give a little bit of hope for anyone that’s in that dark place.”

 

David and Catherine have set aside 100 days to travel to 25 locations across the UK, with Leeds and Sheffield also on the route.

They are spending four days in each, with David running 50km each day, in 10km loops.

Speaking on day 33 of the challenge, David says the toughest part so far was getting injured on day 14, which left him hobbling for 12-and-a-half hours to complete the 50km.

“In all honesty I was ready to give up,” he says.

“I genuinely wanted to go home but my wife picked me up and she sort of said if you can walk, if you can take a step, keep going for the charities.”

David, whose target is to raise £1m, says he coped with the warm weather by trying to find shade and running with ice packs down his back.