Ex-Gamer Breaks World Record in Ultramarathons for Ailing Mother

As of 2025-11-12T12:37:16+00:00, Sam King, a 31-year-old former gamer known as "Sking," has embarked on an extraordinary challenge to break the men's world record in consecutive ultramarathons. Just two months ago, on 2025-09-27, King launched "Project 74," a fundraising initiative for the brain injury charity Headway UK.

King's inspiring journey began a few years ago when he overcame a severe gaming addiction and significant weight issues. Now, he is dedicating his record-breaking attempt to honor his 74-year-old mother, Penny, who suffered a traumatic brain bleed earlier this year. Doctors had initially told King that his mother would not survive, but she miraculously recovered, though she is now unable to walk, feed herself, or hold a proper conversation.

To commemorate his mother's age and her remarkable resilience, King is running 50km (31 miles) every single day for 74 days. His goal is to raise £74,000 for Headway UK, a charity that supports individuals and families affected by brain injuries. As of 2025-11-12T12:37:16+00:00, King has reached approximately 45% of his fundraising target.

King's dedication to this challenge extends beyond his mother's well-being. A few years ago, he was severely overweight and addicted to gaming, even reaching the top rank in the world for Call of Duty. After leaving gaming behind, he found solace in running, which transformed his life and gave him a renewed sense of purpose and confidence.