What is Sam King's challenge?

Sam King, a 31-year-old former gamer, is running 50km (31 miles) every day for 74 days as part of his "Project 74" challenge to raise £74,000 for the brain injury charity Headway UK.

How has Sam King's life changed?

A few years ago, Sam King 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 a new passion for running, which transformed his life and gave him a renewed sense of purpose and confidence.

Home / Lifestyle / Ex-Gamer Breaks World Record in Ultramarathons for Ailing Mother

Ex-Gamer Breaks World Record in Ultramarathons for Ailing Mother

Q: Why is Sam King undertaking this challenge?

Sam King is dedicating this challenge to honor his 74-year-old mother, Penny, who suffered a traumatic brain bleed earlier this year and miraculously recovered, though she now faces significant health challenges.

12 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Ex-gamer Sam King transforms life to break men's ultramarathon record
Running 50km daily for 74 days to raise funds for brain injury charity
Dedicates challenge to honor his 74-year-old mother's miraculous recovery

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.