Guest speaker Jeremy Scott told his inspiring story last week at our club dinner.
As a youngster Jeremy had to be treated with kid gloves due t his hole in the heart condition. Team sports, in fact any physical involvements were virtually impossible until he had a radical procedure which was totally successful, and changed his life entirely.
After being impressed by the cycling feats of some of his peers while living in London, he thought that he too would have a significant cycling pursuit. In planning for his London to Auckland "pie in the sky" adventure, he broke the trip into 3 categories - Europe, South East Asia and outback Australia.
After being impressed by the cycling feats of some of his peers while living in London, he thought that he too would have a significant cycling pursuit. In planning for his London to Auckland "pie in the sky" adventure, he broke the trip into 3 categories - Europe, South East Asia and outback Australia.
The overweight, unfit novice who started the journey in October 2011 was unrecognisable two and a half years later when he had cycled the last of his 52,000 kilometres, having travelled through 31 countries.
As well as raising funds for the Heart foundation en route, he overcame many personal fears, discovered untapped strengths and relished talking to locals at each destination.
One such person who inspired Jeremy was a man in Hanoi who explained that his brother had a similar complaint and it transpired that he was operated on by the same surgeon 2 years earlier. Sadly, this fellow did not survive to prosper and grow like Jeremy, but that conversation was the catalyst for him to face each successive adversity with confidence and resolve.
One such person who inspired Jeremy was a man in Hanoi who explained that his brother had a similar complaint and it transpired that he was operated on by the same surgeon 2 years earlier. Sadly, this fellow did not survive to prosper and grow like Jeremy, but that conversation was the catalyst for him to face each successive adversity with confidence and resolve.
Since arriving home from Auckland Jeremy has become a public speaker and continues raising funds for his charity. But in reality, he really enjoys a simple life, relishing opportunities to spend time enjoying travel and nature.