Jamie McDonald (adventurer)

Solo run across Canada

Dressed as superhero The Flash, McDonald set off on 9 March 2013 from St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, on the Atlantic coast and completed the journey of 5,000 miles to Vancouver on the Pacific on 3 February 2014. Jamie spoke to schools throughout the entire journey to help with fundraising. His original intention had been to complete the journey before the winter.

McDonald was inspired by Terry Fox, one-legged and suffering from cancer, whose run across Canada was cut short by cancer.

On the route, McDonald faced a number of ordeals: he endured −40C temperatures, he was beaten and robbed celebrating the new year in Banff, Alberta, and had to push his 60 kilograms (130 lb) load in a pushchair when he was no longer able to carry it on his back. Suffering from acute tendinitis in his foot, he continued his run and a bone spur has grown over the inflammation. He slept rough on the side of the road unless taken in by strangers. He wore through 10 pairs of trainers.

He raised more than £250,000 for children's charities in the UK and Canada in a bid to give back to the charities that supported him as an unwell child, including Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and the charity which supports Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, and also Canadian charities such as SickKids Foundation.

Cycling Bangkok to Gloucester

In 2012, McDonald 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. He documented his journey in a series of YouTube clips.

Static cycle world record attempt

Two days after he finished the journey back from Bangkok; McDonald made the decision to attempt the world static cycling record, which stood at 224 hours and 24 minutes. It was a challenge he had conceived whilst cycling from Bangkok. He stepped off the exercise bike set up within a marquee in Gloucester after pedalling for a Guinness world record breaking 268 hours – more than eleven days.

Personal life

McDonald was born in Gloucester, England to Donald and Ann McDonald. As a child, McDonald battled an immune deficiency, epilepsy, and syringomyelia and was frequently hospitalised up to the age of nine.

Honours and awards

In December 2012, McDonald achieved a World Record for 'Marathon Static Cycling' - stepping off the bike at 268 hours (more than 12 days).

In 2013, during his run across Canada, in Calgary, Jamie was Awarded the White Hat (in previous years the likes of Prince William, Kate Middleton, Arnold Schwarznegger and many more have also been White Hatted).

Voted 'Male Runner Of The Year' and awarded the 'Golden Shoe' from Canadian Running magazine.

After the run across Canada, on his homecoming in Gloucester, Jamie was presented with the Medal of the City of Gloucester - the highest accolade the Mayor of Gloucester can bestow.

In September 2014 McDonald was named Pride of Britain's 'Fundraiser of the Year' for the West.

He was named in the Independent's 'Happy List 2014', a list of 100 people giving back to the community.

Ambassador of the Year at the Believe in Gloucester Awards 2014.