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<\/p>\nA man who is running the length of the UK within 30 days after nearly dying from meningitis as a teenager says he feels “unstoppable.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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Shelly said the support Jack has received has been “overwhelming” [BBC]<\/p>\n
Jack survived without any after-effects and recovered fully, but had another scare in January after a trip to Sri Lanka to celebrate his 30th birthday.<\/p>\n
“It was looking very likely it was meningitis again so of course my world completely collapsed again,” she said.<\/p>\n
Six days later, doctors confirmed Jack had dengue fever, and not meningitis.<\/p>\n
“That’s where all this started,” she added.<\/p>\n
“From his hospital bed he said the NHS have saved me again, I’m going to do something really extraordinary.”<\/p>\n
‘Unstoppable now’<\/p>\n
Jack’s total journey is about 932 miles (1,500km) and he reached day 24 of 30 on Sunday, running from Gloucester and through his hometown of Bristol.<\/p>\n
He has so far raised more than \u00a39,000 to go towards research, support and awareness of meningitis.<\/p>\n
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the road on my own so, up north was a real battle,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I think going through those extreme lows up there on my own and still being able to push through has made me feel like I’m unstoppable now.”<\/p>\n
On Sunday Jack will run from Bristol to Burnham-on-Sea, in Somerset.<\/p>\n
“I feel like what I’ve been through already there ain’t no stopping me now.<\/p>\n
“Ive found some purpose here in the last few weeks, I feel like the real Jack is back.”<\/p>\n
Meningitis – are vaccines available?![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/27ed3625f8a3577b63910594d22bf2ae.png\"\/)
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The MenACWY vaccine, which is free on the NHS, offers protection against four types of bacteria that can cause meningitis – meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y – and is offered to teenagers aged 14 years old. Anyone who missed out can get it for free until their 25th birthday.<\/p>\n
The MenB vaccine helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria and is recommended for babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at one year.<\/p>\n
Currently, anyone aged 15 or over can only get a MenB vaccine privately.<\/p>\n
However a one-off summer vaccination programme<\/a> is taking place in the UK to help protect a million young people leaving for university against MenB.<\/p>\n In July, UK experts recommended all teenagers should be offered a free MenB vaccine at about the age of 15 to the government – a change in their previous advice<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630<\/a>.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated Internet Links