AN ADVENTURER who has defied the odds to raise thousands of pounds for sick children will be guest speaker at the Hereford Times Health and Social Care Awards 2019.

Jamie McDonald will address the audience at a gala evening in September to celebrate the achievements of the sector's unsung champions.

He is an accomplished story-teller who will delight award nominees and guests with light-hearted but inspiring accounts of his travels across the world.

Jamie spent the first nine years of his life in and out of hospital with a rare spinal condition called syringomyelia. It, combined with a weak immune system and epilepsy, meant his 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 go ahead and buy Jamie then began a quest, with his own money, to give back to the hospitals that had supported him.

In 2012, he bought a second-hand bike and decided to cycle the 14,000 miles from Bangkok to his hometown of 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 he made the decision to attempt the world static cycling record, which stood at 224 hours and 24 minutes.

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 11 days. Throughout both challenges, Jamie raised tens of thousands of pounds for a charity that benefits the children’s ward of Gloucester Royal Hospital.

In February 2014, Jamie finished a 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 £250,000 for sick children in Canada and the UK. He battled -40C temperatures, the Rockies, a frostbitten nose, numerous potentially challenge-stopping injuries and more to finish in Vancouver, running the equivalent of a marathon most days while wearing a superhero costume – the Flash.

He filmed his journey all the way across to create a short BBC documentary.

As if that wasn’t enough, in 2018 Jamie completed yet another fundraising cross-country run.

A 5,500-mile (210 marathons) solo journey across the USA, this time dressed as his very own alter ego, Adventureman.

Over a year on the road he faced monsoons, floods, scorching desert heat of  50C, and dodged mountain lions, rattle snakes and tarantulas. 

Jamie has written a best selling book and has raised more than £1million for children’s charities around the world.

The Hereford Times Health and Social Care Awards, which are now in their second year, will again recognise outstanding work by individuals and teams in the health and social care sector across Herefordshire.

The 12 categories are: Care Team, Care Hero, Care Home Worker, Domiciliary Worker, Good Nurse, Outstanding Contribution to Social Care, Care Trainer, Dignity in Care, Dementia Carer, Palliative/End of Life, Mental Health Care and Care Employer.

Headline sponsor is the University of Worcester, the region’s leading healthcare training provider.

A series of supplements in the Hereford Times and special coverage on our website and social media will promote the awards and publicise those shortlisted.

Find out how to submit a nomination: http://bit.ly/2VxQsxR