Kiwi-born adventurer and author Jeremy Scott may have been born with a huge hole in his heart but he also has an insatiable craving for adventure.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In 2011 he set off on a solo bike ride.
Two and half years and over 50,000km later Jeremy had travelled the world in what had become a life changing journey.
Jeremy wrote his first book “The Long Road From A Broken Heart” and now dedicates his life to inspiring others.
His speaking tour of regional Queensland comes to Mount Isa next week.
“I’m on a tour to promote the book and raise a bit of awareness for the Heart Foundation,” Jeremy told the North West Star while on the road near Mackay.
“I’m trying to inspire people to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.”
Jeremy said he was born with a hole in the heart, a life threatening condition that required major surgery from the age of four.
“As a youngster if I tried to exercise the blood would just pump out of the hole and wouldn’t make it to my legs,” he said.
The surgery has not just closed the hole but transformed his life.
“I moved from New Zealand to London and while I was there I was looking at big ideas of how to give back to the people that have changed my life,” he said.
“I was reading a magazine about book rides and thought, that’s it, ‘I’m going to ride home from London’.”
Jeremy took the long way to get home and his adventures of three years fill the book, some of the profits he donates to the Heart Foundation.
Heart Foundation Queensland CEO, Stephen Vines, said Jeremy’s story of going from a sickly child in need of open-heart surgery to a cyclist travelling the world was worth listening to.
“We know many children and families are devastated by the impact of heart conditions,” Mr Vines said. “Jeremy’s courage is inspiring and his story of the experiences he had while cycling the world is incredible.”
Jeremy will be speaking at Mount Isa City Library, Wednesday September 26 at 3.30pm. Entry is free.