Jack Jarvis is running from Beijing to London for brainstrust
In July 2026, British endurance athlete Jack Jarvis will attempt something no one is known to have done before: run 13,000km continuously from Beijing to London to raise £1 million for brainstrust.
That’s the equivalent of more than 300 marathons in consecutive days.
This extraordinary endurance challenge will take Jack across 18 countries, through extreme climates, remote terrain and complex geopolitical regions, before finishing at Trafalgar Square in London, hopefully around spring 2027. It’s the biggest fundraising challenge ever undertaken for our charity – and if anyone can do it, Jack can.
Every mile he runs will help brainstrust reach more people living with a brain tumour diagnosis across the UK – ensuring no one faces brain cancer alone.
A world-first endurance challenge
Jack will run approximately 50km (31 miles) every single day for around eight months.
That means:
- More than a marathon every day
- Around 350km every week – roughly the distance from London to Paris
- Tens of thousands of steps daily
- Continuous physical and mental strain across changing terrain, climates and borders
- Sleeping and recovering in a transit van travelling alongside him
While ultra-endurance events continue to grow in popularity, no known attempt has ever been made to complete a continuous run of this scale and route under current global conditions.
As Jack explains: “If I want people to donate their hard-earned cash to me, I want to do something big so they feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.”
The countries Jack will run through
1. China
2. Kazakhstan
3. Kyryzstan
4. Uzbekistan
5. Turkmenistan
6. Azerbaijan
7. Georgia
8. Türkiye
9. Greece
10. Bulgaria
11. Serbia
12. Bosnia
13. Croatia
14. Slovenia
15. Austria
16. Germany
17. France
18. England
Why Jack is taking on this challenge
Jack’s motivation is deeply personal.
His grandfather died from brain cancer, and this challenge is dedicated to raising awareness and life-changing funds for our charity, brainstrust.
Every year, thousands of people diagnosed with a brain tumour are left feeling overwhelmed, isolated and unsupported between medical appointments. Fewer than 30% receive any psychosocial support.
brainstrust exists to change that.
We provide practical and emotional support through:
Specialist coaching
Support groups
Peer support services
Expert resources and guidance
Help navigating treatment pathways and non-clinical decisions
We want to raise £1 million pounds
The £1 million fundraising target would allow brainstrust to double its impact –reaching 10,000 people every year across the whole of the UK with personalised support and trusted information.
That means...
Twice the number of Brain Boxes delivered
Double the coaching hours from specialist support staff
Expanded peer support services
Greater resources for healthcare professionals to signpost patients effectively
More people receiving support earlier in their diagnosis
The reality of brain cancer in the UK
Brain tumours remain one of the most devastating forms of cancer in the UK.
- Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40
- More than 102,000 people in the UK are currently living with a brain tumour
- Around 79 people are diagnosed every day
- 5,456 people lose their lives to a brain tumour every year
- Only 11.2% of people diagnosed with brain cancer in England survive 10 years or more
Behind every statistic is a family navigating uncertainty, fear and life-changing decisions.
This challenge is about making sure more people have somewhere to turn.
From Atlantic rower to extreme endurance athlete
Jack is no stranger to pushing the limits of human endurance.
In 2022, he became the first person in history to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, spending 111 days alone at sea. The challenge attracted international attention and support from high-profile names including David Beckham.
That same year, he crossed the Atacama Desert and placed sixth in his first ultra-marathon.
More recently, Jack won the Mackyard Last Man Standing Ultra Marathon and completed the London Marathon after only finding out the day before that he was running.
But perhaps his greatest test came in 2023, when a skydiving accident left him with a serious leg injury that doctors warned could have lasting consequences.
This run represents the culmination of his recovery journey.
“This run will push the limits of what’s possible, physically and mentally,” Jack says. “After my accident, I had to rebuild everything. This challenge is the ultimate test of that journey.”
How you can support Jack’s run home
Jack’s run from Beijing to London is about more than endurance. It’s about creating hope, raising awareness and funding vital support for people living with brain cancer.
You can support the challenge by:
- Donating to help brainstrust reach more people.
- Sharing Jack’s journey on social media
- Following the route and updates throughout the challenge
- Partnering as a sponsor or brand supporter
- Helping raise awareness of brain tumours and the realities patients face
Together, we can turn every step into meaningful support for families across the UK.