A Macclesfield runner can see the finishing line of his world record attempt

Tom Stott has been running 10km every single day since August 19, 2024, with the aim of doing so for 500 consecutive days.

The 31-year-old set out on the challenge, which raises money for the mental health charity Mind, after opening up about his gambling addiction on social media.

Some of the money raised will also be donated to AFC Prestbury, his childhood football team.

Tom said: "Initially, because I like fitness, I looked at the Guiness World Records website and just thought I'd give myself a bit of a challenge to keep fit and I saw that there was a Guinness World Record that you could set but they gave you a benchmark of 365 days.

"I set out on August 19 to try and achieve at least my goal of 500 and hoping that no one would beat that in the future."

Tom's challenge was initially a Guiness World Record attempt, until that changed 347 days in.

"I knew there was a couple of people, a guy in Portugal and a guy in Brazil, who were doing the challenge as well. One of them was 20 days ahead of me and the other was about 100.

"But then we found out that there was somebody called Chad in America who'd run, from what I was aware of, over a thousand. He reached out to me on social media and advised me that he's now over two thousand, which is around seven years. That completely changed everything."

Tom works for NovaTherm in the week and competes as an international foot golf player at the weekends, so fitting in the time to run a 10km everyday can be though.

"It has been difficult, especially this time of year. I started in August last year, quite quickly we had early dark nights and wet weather and we're back into that now.

"The motivation of the days ticking down and getting closer to day 500, which is New Years Eve, is the motivation itself and when people donate and I was never going to stop. There are though days, but I get through them."

During the challenge, Tom has completed other challenges, such as various half marathons, an ultramarathon, and an attempted 100 mile run around football stadiums in the Northwest.

"I'd been doing 10ks for so long, not to say they became easy, but they became a bit boring, and I wanted to challenge myself. I went from where I live in Macclesfield to Stockport, then the Etihad, Old Trafford, Everton's stadium and then Anfield.

"I got around there and the body gave up so I didn't quite make the 100 miles, but I gave it a good go"

70% of the money raised by the challenge will go to Mind charity, who helped Tom through his gambling addiction. He has raised over £3,500 so far.

"I wanted to raise money for Mind charity who have helped me from an early stage. I suffered from a gambling addiction, so I reached out to them when I was struggling and they helped me.

"I've got quite an addictive personality, I found gambling and ended up hooked on it, and I only found out a couple of years later that I was a serious problem gambler. It got quite bad to the point where I felt I had no one to turn to.

"I spoke to Samaritans at the time because I was struggling and Mind charity. It was Mind who really have me the support that I needed at the time to get help. That's why I chose mind and why I'm so determined to give back to them. The more we can raise the more people they can support."

Tom will finish his challenge on New Year's Eve, with the final run held before a gathering at Ye Olde Admiral Rodney in Prestbury.

"There's a pub near where I live called the Admiral Rodney and they've always been supportive with sponsoring football teams I've played for. I spoke to Jill who owns the place, and we've arranged on New Year's Eve, around lunchtime so we don't get in the way of people's plans for midnight, that everyone's going meet there.

"We'll leave about 12 o'clock to do the final 10k for those who want to join the run and then those who want to join for a few drinks and a bit of a celebration afterwards can. We will then try to get a little last push for some donations on the day as well."

You can find out more about Tom's journey and donate to his GoFundMe here.