A man from Brecon is to complete his 21-marathon challenge for cats despite running with a broken rib and busted knee.

Dave Milborrow set out to run over 550 miles in 18 days last September around the north coast of Wales starting and ending in Aberystwyth, to raise £5,000 for Cats Protection.

Despite falling through a boardwalk on day 14 damaging his knee and breaking a rib when slipping on ice this month, Dave is ready to complete his challenge on January 25.

Dave's route was the equivalent of running 21 marathons across 18 days
Dave's route was the equivalent of running 21 marathons across 18 days (Dave Milborrow - Komoot)

Dave, 46, said: “It’s been full of brilliant highs and deep lows, I’m so thankful to everybody who has donated and followed my journey even after I was injured and then once I got back on course.

“I’ve run through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world in temperatures ranging from 30 degrees to -2 degrees, but it was thinking of the cats and the fantastic work our branches do that kept me going, especially when I was in pain or the rain and snow was battering me and all I wanted to do was give up.”

Dave, a Branch Development Manager at Cats Protection, had already run 411 miles when a slat broke underneath him on a boardwalk in Anglesey, badly twisting his knee.

Despite continuing for several days more, the knee injury caused shin splints and “the worst bruising his physio had ever seen” developing a risk of a stress fracture.

After his physiotherapist helped his estimated six-month recovery take only two, he started chipping away at his target again in late November.

However a further curveball came when he broke a rib on January 9 when he slipped on ice.

Shockingly he hasn’t given up and will be completing his last 34km next Saturday.

Dave running through mud (left) and the bruising caused by shin splints (right)
Dave running through mud (left) and the bruising caused by shin splints (right) (Dave Milborrow)

The runner said: “I’m really stubborn when it comes to things like this, when someone tells me I can’t do something I think, why not?

“There were moments when I’d run 60km in a day and all I wanted to do was curl up under a bush and have a sleep - when you’re that exhausted you don’t really care where.

“What the human body can actually adapt to is quite remarkable.

“But I was forced to stop to prevent permanent injury - after that, I was pretty fed up and down.

“Running on a broken rib is a bit uncomfortable but I just have to be careful with my footing.

“I never got to the point where I was going to give up for good.

“It’s been so intense, I’m looking forward to a rest but I wonder what I will do when I finish.

“I’ve already got another fundraising challenge in the works, involving a bike ride to all 34 cat rehoming centres in the UK.”

Cats Protection will be hosting a stall at Aberystwyth’s bandstand selling merchandise and refreshments to celebrate Dave’s finish on January 25.

Dave is also hosting a sweepstake with prizes for those who guess his finishing time - to participate, visit his JustGiving page: https://shorturl.at/D3hWG