A marathon runner who raised £8,000 for rape victims has scooped the Cosmopolitan magazine ultimate man of the year award.

Chris Jackson, 27, of Earlsfield Road, Wandsworth picked up the award for running 12 marathons in 12 months to help women raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The communications worker collected the award last Thursday at an awards ceremony hosted by Fearne Cotton.

He was invited for breakfast with Samantha Cameron and seven other Cosmopolitan real life award winners the following day at Number 10 Downing Street.

Mr Jackson said the award would mean a lot to Congo Women, who are often raped as a weapon of war.

He said: "It would show to them people in the UK are aware of what they have been suffering because they feel stigmatised.

"Knowing that people in the UK can relate to them and they are not forgotten about means a lot."

Mr Jackson's endevaours has seen him raise £8,000 for charity by running races in Gloucester, Amsterdam and the Congo last year.

The money was donated to Women for Women International, which help victims with shelter and employment.

Kate Nustedt, UK executive director of Women for Women said: "Chris has put his body and soul into supporting the women in Congo. He will do whatever it takes until people sit up and take notice of the atrocities that are being committed every day."