Jamie McDonald
- Ran 5,000m across Canada & cycled 14,000 miles from Bangkok to Gloucester on a second hand bike.
- ‘Adventureman’ spent the first nine years of his life in hospital as a sick child and is giving back to his support.
- Remarkably inspirational and exceptional motivational speaker he encourages audiences ‘To Find Your Own Inner Superhero’
- Awarded a ‘Pride of Britain Award’ in 2015 for fundraising.
Jamie McDonald, against all odds, has become something of an adventurer.
Jamie spent the first nine years of his life in and out of hospital with a rare spinal condition known as syringomyelia. Combined with a very weak immune system and epilepsy, Jamie’s health was very poor. He was treated at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London. At nine years old, the symptoms eased, something Jamie attributes to an effort to become more active.
After working as a tennis instructor to save up for a deposit on a house that he did not buy – Jamie then began a quest, with his own money, to give back to the hospitals that supported him.
In 2012, he bought a second hand bike and decided to cycle the 14,000 miles from Bangkok to his hometown Gloucester, passing through dozens of countries. Along the way he was shot at, arrested and slept rough.
Just two days after he finished the journey back from Bangkok; he made the decision to attempt the world static cycling record, which stood at 224 hours and 24 minutes. It was a challenge he’d conceived whilst cycling from Bangkok.
He finally stepped off the exercise bike set up within a marquee in Gloucester after pedalling for a world record breaking 268 hours – more than eleven days. Throughout both challenges, Jamie raised tens of thousands of pounds for a charity that benefits the children’s ward of Gloucester Royal Hospital.
These feats sparked a thought in Jamie’s mind – if he was never a cyclist before these two challenges, but he could go on to break one of the toughest official world cycling records – what else could he achieve?
In February 2014, Jamie finished an historic journey across Canada, becoming the first person in history to run the 5,000 miles from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast without the aid of a support crew. Starting in March 2013, his run raised more than £200,000 for sick children in Canada and the UK. He battled -40°C temperatures, the Rockies, a frostbitten nose, numerous potentially challenge-stopping injuries (including the permanent misshaping of his right foot) and more to finish in Vancouver, running the equivalent of a marathon most days – whilst wearing a Superhero costume The Flash.
His adventures have made news all over the world.
After the adventures, Jamie cites current and future generations to achieve, as a huge motivation. Since he has created a new Superhero, Adventureman, began Motivational Speaking and hopes to continue to inspire and empower people through his new charity, Superhero Foundation.
Speaker
Jamie has delivered motivational, inspiring and entertaining talks for Corporate events, Schools and After Dinner speeches all around the world.
Having overcome debilitating and life-threatening childhood illnesses to conquer monumental physical and mental challenges in a bid to give back to those that helped him, Jamie is keen to share his story of beating the odds and proving that we are capable of much more than many of us know.
In short, Jamie hopes to ‘Find Your Inner Superhero…’
“Jamie has an inspiring story to tell, using his stories to motivate others with his incredible adventures” – Sir Steve Redgrave, 5 time Olympic Gold Medalist
The Keynote – ‘Find Your Inner Superhero’
Every successful person – in business and in life – knows how to motivate themselves and get the best out of the people around them. Motivation is the difference between thinking and doing – but how do you find that within yourself to achieve your goals and dreams? And how do you lead and motivate the people around you when the chips are down?
Guinness World Record holder Jamie McDonald draws on his experience as an award-winning adventurer and fundraiser to take audiences through the process of motivating themselves and others to achieve success. Having spent most of his childhood in hospital with a life-threatening condition before attempting adventurous feats to give back to the charities that helped him, Jamie knows what it is to overcome adversity by pushing himself beyond what he thought he was capable of.
Audiences will be challenged to think about new possibilities, new opportunities and new perspectives. They will be inspired to make choices that will benefit them and the people around them. They will learn that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is a matter of their own mindset – and that anything is possible with the right motivation.
Topics Within The Keynote
- Jamie’s story – succeeding against the odds
- Adversity – how to recognise and overcome it
- Goal-setting – the importance of making goals manageable
- Decision-making – making the right choice under pressure
- Inspiration – how to draw on experience to inspire others
- Role models – the importance of mentors and heroes ·
- Knowing yourself – creating the life you want to lead
- Fun – learning to enjoy the journey
- There’s no ‘I’ in team – you can’t succeed alone
- Fulfilment – achieving the unthinkable
United Kingdom