Congratulations to Jim Plunkett-Cole, from Kilmersdon, who completed his 1,000th 10k run last Sunday at the Mells Scenic Seven race to much celebration.

He has now been running 10k a day every single day since 2013, despite minor illnesses and injuries and a major bereavement in his life – not one single day missed or it would all be over. With his original running partner, Neil Taylor and his border collie, Alfredo, the trio raised a whopping £21,000 in the first year for local charities with many adventures along the way, which Jim has continued, including ultra-marathons and lately, a ‘Shaunathon’, mapping all of the Shauns around Bristol.

Jim has continued to fundraise whilst his challenge extended, raising money for Frome-based charity, Positive Action on Cancer, which offers free, professional counselling to adults and children affected by cancer and the Happy Landings Animal Shelter. He has raised over £1,000 extra for them this year alone.

Speaking about the 1,000 10ks, Jim told The Journal this week: “It’s done! 1,000 days of at least 10k a day, that’s at least 6.21 miles, tracked meticulously, an average of 7.4 miles per day for 1,000 days. If miles failed to track, and they did, I’d do them again!

“Quite a few people have asked how I feel about achieving the 1,000. I am really happy about it and the personal achievement for sure – it is something I never thought I would achieve.

“But what makes me happiest, is the people who came and supported me or who have said amazingly supportive things, who have told me they themselves have been inspired or who have done something themselves as a result and then go on to inspire others in turn.

“My challenges aren’t about my personal achievement or fundraising. Both of these are wonderful, but both are second to the reward I feel whereby those that have been even slightly inspired by my silly challenges, then become active every day for themselves. This is the ‘point’ of doing what I do.

“Huge thanks to everyone over the last few years who have given a like, said supportive things, smiled at me, shook my hand, hugged me (even though I’m an awkward hugger), arranged things for me, shouted at me and loved the dog. There are way too many to name names. But I know who you are and I hope that you know who you are!”

As of last Sunday, Jim still has another 170 days to go to beat the record of Forrest Gump, and because he was finding the 10ks a bit monotonous, is now spending this year taking on a sprint triathlon every day – that’s a 400m swim, 20km bike ride and, of course, the 10k run. He finishes next February!

The last two years have also seen the launch of a free 365-day community challenge, where you can be active every single day for a year – it costs nothing, all you need is a tracking device or app to share your progress online. You choose the distance and the method. The group for next year is due to launch shortly, for more about how it works, search Kx365 via Facebook and 10kx1000 for more on Jim’s challenge. You can also follow via Twitter @JimPlunkett-Cole or sponsor at: www.justgiving.com/Jim-Plunkett-Cole1

When he is not running, Jim is a full-time economist. “If you donate a tenner, it works out at 0.1p per 10k!” he says.