A Guinness World Record ultramarathon runner and brain injury survivor from Gwynedd has been shortlisted for a national award

David ‘Jacko’ Jackson, 44, is a finalist in the Alex

Richardson Achiever of the Year category at Headway UK’s Annual Awards after raising more than £45,000 and inspiring thousands through his ‘Mission IN-possible’ challenge.

The resilient and inspiring ultramarathon runner from Caernarfon featured in the ‘Cambrian News’ in August when he was coming to the end of an extraordinary world-record-breaking challenge that saw him run 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days.

His incredible Mission IN-possible challenge raised over £45,000 in the process for brain injury charities Headway UK and Head for Change.

He now holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive ultramarathons ran by a male, beating the previously held record by 20 ultramarathons.

Joined by 855 people throughout Mission IN-possible and covering more than 5,500km, Jacko used every mile to raise awareness of brain injury and the work of the two charities.

But beyond his impressive grit and hilarious social media videos is the story behind the challenge that truly inspired those around him, because what makes Jacko’s achievement so remarkable is that he is a brain injury survivor himself.

In 2013, his professional rugby career with Nottingham RFC came to a sudden end after he experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and seizure during a pre-season training session.

The months that followed were marked by fatigue, sensitivity to light and cognitive difficulties as he faced the long road to recovery.

Having experienced first-hand the impact a brain injury can have, Jacko was determined to give back and support others facing similar challenges.

Jacko is now one of three finalists in the Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year category, sponsored by Slater & Gordon, and was put forward for the Headway award by

several supporters, who commented on his “unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those affected by brain injury.”

Headway UK hosts a glittering annual awards ceremony celebrating the dedication, growth and outstanding achievements of brain injury survivors, carers, volunteers, and others in the Headway community across the country.

This year’s Annual Awards are headline sponsored by Charles Stanley Raymond James.

Jacko said being nominated for the award is ‘an honour’ but heaped praise on his wife-of-13-years, Catherine, and the many supporters who turned up to run alongside him and cheer him on.

He said: “It’s an honour to be nominated but it’s not just me who completed the challenge. Catherine, my wife, was with me every single day of the 100 days challenge, alongside over 800 hundred wonderful people, who not only came and ran with me during the challenge but went out of their way to help me and Catherine.

“It was a team effort, and I couldn’t have done it without that support.”

The winners of the Headway Annual Awards, sponsored by Charles Stanley Raymond James, will be announced on Thursday, 10 December, at The Royal Lancaster in London.