A man who is running the length of the UK within 30 days after nearly dying from meningitis as a teenager says he feels “unstoppable.”
Jack Stewart, from Bristol, is currently running the equivalent of an ultra marathon – every day from John O’ Groats, in Scotland, to Land’s End in Cornwall to raise money for Meningitis Research Foundation.
The 30-year-old was initially misdiagnosed with a virus as a 14-year-old in 2009, and a day later his symptoms worsened and he nearly died from meningitis.
“It’s been so overwhelming,” said Jack’s mum, Shelly. “It’s just brought a lot of emotion back from 16 years ago and the support is just unbelievable.”
Shelly said Jack was sent home ill from school one day in 2009, with symptoms including “feeling delirious, vomiting and not wanting the light on.”
Doctors told Shelly Jack had a virus but a day later, Jack was rushed to Bristol Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with meningitis.
“They told us it would be a 24-hour fight between meningitis and the medication that they’ve given him and they said it’s basically who wins,” Shelly said.