Alex Flynn – Fundraiser of the Year 2013

The Fundraiser of the Year Award recognises the individual who has ‘gone above and beyond’ to raise funds and/or awareness for Parkinson’s. Alex Flynn was the first recipient, becoming Fundraiser of the Year 2013.

“The word ‘extraordinary’ is an adjective which is unworthy of Alex Flynn, but it’s the only word I can think of to describe the man and his achievements. His 10 million metre challenge, which finished as he passed the finishing post in the blistering heat of Dubai, having completed yet another marathon, is surely one of the most exceptional achievements, not just for someone with Parkinson’s but for anyone, anywhere, at any time. To do justice to all of the Herculean labours of this man would take up most of this website, so here is just a short list of some of his exploits over the past four years:

6,214 miles in some of the toughest endurance races around the world by foot, bike or kayak; 3,256 miles across the USA, from California to New York; 1,475 miles from London to Rome (400 miles of which were with a stress fracture in his right shin); running the South African Otter Trail with a broken ankle; 143 miles through the Amazon jungle in Peru.

I’ve always been rather proud of my 4,500 mile walk around the coast of Britain, but while engaging in a bit of friendly banter with an undisclosed member of the Parkinson’s community recently, I was put in my place. ‘Tom’, he said ‘compared to Alex Flynn, you’re a mushroom!”

Tom Isaacs, Late Co-founder and President, Cure Parkinson’s