How would most people react to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease?

For motivational speaker Alex Flynn, it meant establishing the 10MillionMetres Challenge.

Alex – guest speaker at this year's Worcestershire Education Awards – had worked as a lawyer for multinationals when he received the devastating news in 2008.

But in the face of adversity, Alex achieved something truly inspirational: he, quite literally, went to the ends of the earth to show that it is possible to do anything, even when living with a degenerative disease.

Encompassing some of the world’s most daring races, the 10MillionMetres Challenge took Alex 10,000,010m around the world through deserts, mountains, and even open water.

By running, cycling, swimming, and walking, Alex’s incredible feats of courage sets out to raise £1million for research into Parkinson’s.

While fighting against the relentless progression of the disease, Alex completed The 2010 Marathon des Sables, raced across the Bavarian Alps, and traversed from London to Rome in 30 days, not to mention taking on Ironman and an Olympic Triathlon.

In 2014, he passed the 10million metre mark at the finishing line of the Dubai Marathon.

In 2017 Alex took part in the Kungsleden expedition, a 450km challenge taking on the Kings Trail in Norther Sweden unsupported.

Alex said he's looking forward to sharing his story at the awards at the University Arena on June 20.