imagine you’ve only been given a week left to live what would you do would you
left to live what would you do would you
left to live what would you do would you fly somewhere that you’ve never been
fly somewhere that you’ve never been
fly somewhere that you’ve never been before would you meet a celebrity that
before would you meet a celebrity that
before would you meet a celebrity that you’ve always wanted to meet would you
you’ve always wanted to meet would you
you’ve always wanted to meet would you do something daring something a bit
do something daring something a bit
do something daring something a bit different
different
different jump out of a plane perhaps well over
jump out of a plane perhaps well over
jump out of a plane perhaps well over the next 10 minutes I’m gonna try and
the next 10 minutes I’m gonna try and
the next 10 minutes I’m gonna try and convince you why I would spend the last
convince you why I would spend the last
convince you why I would spend the last week of my life by living an adventure
week of my life by living an adventure
week of my life by living an adventure and it all starts with a boy a boy named
and it all starts with a boy a boy named
and it all starts with a boy a boy named Liam Liam was 10 years old when he was
Liam Liam was 10 years old when he was
Liam Liam was 10 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer and Liam changed
diagnosed with cancer and Liam changed
diagnosed with cancer and Liam changed my life he was my brother he was my
my life he was my brother he was my
my life he was my brother he was my friend
friend
friend my best friend actually and he was the
my best friend actually and he was the
my best friend actually and he was the most amazing person that I ever met in
most amazing person that I ever met in
most amazing person that I ever met in the entire world and in 2005 when he was
the entire world and in 2005 when he was
the entire world and in 2005 when he was 10 and I was a doctors told him he had
10 and I was a doctors told him he had
10 and I was a doctors told him he had synovial sarcoma a cancer in his left
synovial sarcoma a cancer in his left
synovial sarcoma a cancer in his left leg and he was given after a year well
leg and he was given after a year well
leg and he was given after a year well after a year he was his friend sadly
after a year he was his friend sadly
after a year he was his friend sadly passed away at a similar age a friend
passed away at a similar age a friend
passed away at a similar age a friend that he met in hospital that’s when it
that he met in hospital that’s when it
that he met in hospital that’s when it became apparent to me to Liam and to a
became apparent to me to Liam and to a
became apparent to me to Liam and to a whole family that the same could happen
whole family that the same could happen
whole family that the same could happen to him and Liam wasn’t invincible
to him and Liam wasn’t invincible
to him and Liam wasn’t invincible and shortly after Liam’s cancer was cast
and shortly after Liam’s cancer was cast
and shortly after Liam’s cancer was cast his terminal doctors gave Liam just one
his terminal doctors gave Liam just one
his terminal doctors gave Liam just one week left to live much like that
week left to live much like that
week left to live much like that scenario opposed to you earlier
scenario opposed to you earlier
scenario opposed to you earlier imagine being 11 years old and only
imagine being 11 years old and only
imagine being 11 years old and only having a week left to live what would
having a week left to live what would
having a week left to live what would you do Liam decided that rather than
you do Liam decided that rather than
you do Liam decided that rather than being sad and sitting in a corner and
being sad and sitting in a corner and
being sad and sitting in a corner and crying for the last week of his life he
crying for the last week of his life he
crying for the last week of his life he wanted to help people he wanted to do
wanted to help people he wanted to do
wanted to help people he wanted to do great things he wanted to help people
great things he wanted to help people
great things he wanted to help people like him and like his friend who passed
like him and like his friend who passed
like him and like his friend who passed away and then a week went by and Liam
away and then a week went by and Liam
away and then a week went by and Liam was still here and people going hot on
was still here and people going hot on
was still here and people going hot on him probably shouldn’t be here not that
him probably shouldn’t be here not that
him probably shouldn’t be here not that they weren’t that mean about it
they weren’t that mean about it
they weren’t that mean about it but for the sake of the narrative they
but for the sake of the narrative they
but for the sake of the narrative they were and they were like this is so
were and they were like this is so
were and they were like this is so confusing why are you still here and
confusing why are you still here and
confusing why are you still here and then another week went by and then
then another week went by and then
then another week went by and then another couple of weeks went by doctors
another couple of weeks went by doctors
another couple of weeks went by doctors told Liam he wouldn’t live to his
told Liam he wouldn’t live to his
told Liam he wouldn’t live to his twelfth birthday he proved them wrong
twelfth birthday he proved them wrong
twelfth birthday he proved them wrong Liam was told that it would never be
Liam was told that it would never be
Liam was told that it would never be able to walk again because of the cancer
able to walk again because of the cancer
able to walk again because of the cancer in his leg he proved them wrong time and
in his leg he proved them wrong time and
in his leg he proved them wrong time and time again
time again
time again Liam defied all odds until sadly on the
Liam defied all odds until sadly on the
Liam defied all odds until sadly on the 30th of June 2009 the impostor way he
30th of June 2009 the impostor way he
30th of June 2009 the impostor way he was aged as 14 years old and his promise
was aged as 14 years old and his promise
was aged as 14 years old and his promise he made to himself in that last week of
he made to himself in that last week of
he made to himself in that last week of his life was to try and help people and
his life was to try and help people and
his life was to try and help people and he ended up raising millions of pounds
he ended up raising millions of pounds
he ended up raising millions of pounds for charity and he proved to me that you
for charity and he proved to me that you
for charity and he proved to me that you can do anything if you believe that you
can do anything if you believe that you
can do anything if you believe that you can do it and I remember many things
can do it and I remember many things
can do it and I remember many things about the day he passed away I remember
about the day he passed away I remember
about the day he passed away I remember the time remember the weather and I
the time remember the weather and I
the time remember the weather and I bought was on TV I remember what I ate
bought was on TV I remember what I ate
bought was on TV I remember what I ate but my most – poignant memories for the
but my most – poignant memories for the
but my most – poignant memories for the two promises that I made to Liam firstly
two promises that I made to Liam firstly
two promises that I made to Liam firstly that I would try and help other people
that I would try and help other people
that I would try and help other people in some way however I could and secondly
in some way however I could and secondly
in some way however I could and secondly I think this is a promise that we should
I think this is a promise that we should
I think this is a promise that we should all make to everyone at anytime is that
all make to everyone at anytime is that
all make to everyone at anytime is that I would live a great life and I decided
I would live a great life and I decided
I would live a great life and I decided to do that by living every week of my
to do that by living every week of my
to do that by living every week of my life as an adventure it started in
life as an adventure it started in
life as an adventure it started in January of 2015 and I saw these nutters
January of 2015 and I saw these nutters
January of 2015 and I saw these nutters going around the world on a bicycle they
going around the world on a bicycle they
going around the world on a bicycle they were either trying to beat a world
were either trying to beat a world
were either trying to beat a world record or they were trying to spend
record or they were trying to spend
record or they were trying to spend years and years just cycling around and
years and years just cycling around and
years and years just cycling around and doing amazing things and meeting really
doing amazing things and meeting really
doing amazing things and meeting really cool people I was like I really really
cool people I was like I really really
cool people I was like I really really want this challenge so I decided that I
want this challenge so I decided that I
want this challenge so I decided that I would just do it
would just do it
would just do it so my first kind of point about trying
so my first kind of point about trying
so my first kind of point about trying to live your life as an adventure and
to live your life as an adventure and
to live your life as an adventure and how you should is just to do it to go
how you should is just to do it to go
how you should is just to do it to go out there and do something I decided
out there and do something I decided
out there and do something I decided with some little savings that I had I
with some little savings that I had I
with some little savings that I had I would spend all my money on perching
would spend all my money on perching
would spend all my money on perching purchasing a flight to Australia and I
purchasing a flight to Australia and I
purchasing a flight to Australia and I purchased the flight so I had to go
purchased the flight so I had to go
purchased the flight so I had to go there and cycle around the world and
there and cycle around the world and
there and cycle around the world and then
upon thousands of miles nine months on a
upon thousands of miles nine months on a saddle that’s 5% of my life and loads of
saddle that’s 5% of my life and loads of
saddle that’s 5% of my life and loads of Vaseline I started to realize it wasn’t
Vaseline I started to realize it wasn’t
Vaseline I started to realize it wasn’t actually about the challenge it wasn’t
actually about the challenge it wasn’t
actually about the challenge it wasn’t about the number of miles I covered on
about the number of miles I covered on
about the number of miles I covered on my bicycle it wasn’t about the really
my bicycle it wasn’t about the really
my bicycle it wasn’t about the really really tough times and I was trying to
really tough times and I was trying to
really tough times and I was trying to climb up a hill it was about the people
climb up a hill it was about the people
climb up a hill it was about the people I met it wasn’t the challenge
I met it wasn’t the challenge
I met it wasn’t the challenge it was the adventure it was the
it was the adventure it was the
it was the adventure it was the adventure of doing something different
adventure of doing something different
adventure of doing something different and I was told before I left on my ride
and I was told before I left on my ride
and I was told before I left on my ride and even during the ride that everything
and even during the ride that everything
and even during the ride that everything will go wrong I was told I remember
will go wrong I was told I remember
will go wrong I was told I remember friends specifically telling me we’re in
friends specifically telling me we’re in
friends specifically telling me we’re in a month
a month
a month Calem you’re gonna die this isn’t good I
Calem you’re gonna die this isn’t good I
Calem you’re gonna die this isn’t good I don’t really want to be doing this and
don’t really want to be doing this and
don’t really want to be doing this and and then I was after a month went bars
and then I was after a month went bars
and then I was after a month went bars that oh yeah I’m doing all right here
that oh yeah I’m doing all right here
that oh yeah I’m doing all right here I’ve only almost been hit by a few cars
I’ve only almost been hit by a few cars
I’ve only almost been hit by a few cars it’s not going too bad but everyone was
it’s not going too bad but everyone was
it’s not going too bad but everyone was telling me I’d be marked that didn’t
telling me I’d be marked that didn’t
telling me I’d be marked that didn’t happen everyone was telling me I’d be
happen everyone was telling me I’d be
happen everyone was telling me I’d be stabbed that didn’t happen everyone was
stabbed that didn’t happen everyone was
stabbed that didn’t happen everyone was telling me I’d be invited into strangers
telling me I’d be invited into strangers
telling me I’d be invited into strangers houses and something would go wrong that
houses and something would go wrong that
houses and something would go wrong that didn’t happen and I started to realize
didn’t happen and I started to realize
didn’t happen and I started to realize that it would all be okay and I was in
that it would all be okay and I was in
that it would all be okay and I was in Malaysia I just so I could free
Malaysia I just so I could free
Malaysia I just so I could free Singapore and Indonesia and Australasia
Singapore and Indonesia and Australasia
Singapore and Indonesia and Australasia and everything was being fine but I was
and everything was being fine but I was
and everything was being fine but I was sat down by someone in Malaysia who was
sat down by someone in Malaysia who was
sat down by someone in Malaysia who was really worried that I was about to enter
really worried that I was about to enter
really worried that I was about to enter into Thailand he said in Thailand
into Thailand he said in Thailand
into Thailand he said in Thailand everyone has a gun and it sounds stupid
everyone has a gun and it sounds stupid
everyone has a gun and it sounds stupid because it is not everyone has a gun no
because it is not everyone has a gun no
because it is not everyone has a gun no one wants to hurt you either people
one wants to hurt you either people
one wants to hurt you either people don’t care you’re there or they’re
don’t care you’re there or they’re
don’t care you’re there or they’re really excited by the idea that you’re
really excited by the idea that you’re
really excited by the idea that you’re living your life as an adventure and
living your life as an adventure and
living your life as an adventure and rather than being greeted by people who
rather than being greeted by people who
rather than being greeted by people who didn’t want to help me or didn’t want to
didn’t want to help me or didn’t want to
didn’t want to help me or didn’t want to support instead over 400 cyclists join
support instead over 400 cyclists join
support instead over 400 cyclists join me within a week I was actually I was
me within a week I was actually I was
me within a week I was actually I was actually greeted by police cars who
actually greeted by police cars who
actually greeted by police cars who would take me through cities and towns
would take me through cities and towns
would take me through cities and towns and close off roads that loads and loads
and close off roads that loads and loads
and close off roads that loads and loads of people would stop their cars and
of people would stop their cars and
of people would stop their cars and cheer me on this stranger who didn’t
cheer me on this stranger who didn’t
cheer me on this stranger who didn’t speak their language who had never been
speak their language who had never been
speak their language who had never been to Thailand before but was greeted by
to Thailand before but was greeted by
to Thailand before but was greeted by people it will all be okay some people
people it will all be okay some people
people it will all be okay some people are scared about going on adventures
are scared about going on adventures
are scared about going on adventures they’re scared of doing something a bit
they’re scared of doing something a bit
they’re scared of doing something a bit different
different
different I was iced
I was iced
I was iced sometimes but have to remember there are
sometimes but have to remember there are
sometimes but have to remember there are actually people aren’t there to hurt you
actually people aren’t there to hurt you
actually people aren’t there to hurt you people are excited by the fact that
people are excited by the fact that
people are excited by the fact that you’re doing something different and
you’re doing something different and
you’re doing something different and then my other point is that everyone has
then my other point is that everyone has
then my other point is that everyone has a story this is something I think we can
a story this is something I think we can
a story this is something I think we can remember every day there everyone around
remember every day there everyone around
remember every day there everyone around us everyone in this audience every
us everyone in this audience every
us everyone in this audience every single one of you has a story that’s
single one of you has a story that’s
single one of you has a story that’s worth shouting about there’s worth
worth shouting about there’s worth
worth shouting about there’s worth hearing and less about the challenge of
hearing and less about the challenge of
hearing and less about the challenge of cycling a bike around the world it more
cycling a bike around the world it more
cycling a bike around the world it more became about hearing what people have to
became about hearing what people have to
became about hearing what people have to say and hearing these incredible stories
say and hearing these incredible stories
say and hearing these incredible stories I met a man in France his name was Tom
I met a man in France his name was Tom
I met a man in France his name was Tom he was 75 years old he was an English
he was 75 years old he was an English
he was 75 years old he was an English guy I was having a really really tough
guy I was having a really really tough
guy I was having a really really tough day there was a headwind the whole way
day there was a headwind the whole way
day there was a headwind the whole way it was raining I was feeling fed up I
it was raining I was feeling fed up I
it was raining I was feeling fed up I was in the middle of France in December
was in the middle of France in December
was in the middle of France in December in winter the worst time to cycle
in winter the worst time to cycle
in winter the worst time to cycle through Europe and then I started
through Europe and then I started
through Europe and then I started speaking to him and he was telling me
speaking to him and he was telling me
speaking to him and he was telling me about his life story he started off in
about his life story he started off in
about his life story he started off in the Navy because he wanted to go on an
the Navy because he wanted to go on an
the Navy because he wanted to go on an adventure he wanted to see different
adventure he wanted to see different
adventure he wanted to see different things they’d never seen before I he
things they’d never seen before I he
things they’d never seen before I he quit the Navy decided to go traveling
quit the Navy decided to go traveling
quit the Navy decided to go traveling and then he kept doing things up until
and then he kept doing things up until
and then he kept doing things up until that day I met him aged 60 he crossed
that day I met him aged 60 he crossed
that day I met him aged 60 he crossed the Amazon rainforest in a canoe aged 65
the Amazon rainforest in a canoe aged 65
the Amazon rainforest in a canoe aged 65 he he took a camel across the Sahara
he he took a camel across the Sahara
he he took a camel across the Sahara Desert aged 70 he went across the Great
Desert aged 70 he went across the Great
Desert aged 70 he went across the Great Wall of China without telling his wife
Wall of China without telling his wife
Wall of China without telling his wife that he was going to be going away for a
that he was going to be going away for a
that he was going to be going away for a few weeks and that inspired me I was
few weeks and that inspired me I was
few weeks and that inspired me I was like if Tom can do this for his whole
like if Tom can do this for his whole
like if Tom can do this for his whole life
life
life why can’t I so I set about thinking
why can’t I so I set about thinking
why can’t I so I set about thinking about the next adventure
about the next adventure
about the next adventure I didn’t have much time and I didn’t
I didn’t have much time and I didn’t
I didn’t have much time and I didn’t have much money but the next time that
have much money but the next time that
have much money but the next time that can actually do something adventurous
can actually do something adventurous
can actually do something adventurous was in between my first year at
was in between my first year at
was in between my first year at university and the start the second year
university and the start the second year
university and the start the second year so summer three months so I decided
so summer three months so I decided
so summer three months so I decided let’s take an Indian took took around
let’s take an Indian took took around
let’s take an Indian took took around every single European Union country
every single European Union country
every single European Union country because why not
because why not
because why not 28 countries in a little Indian free
28 countries in a little Indian free
28 countries in a little Indian free wheeler
wheeler
wheeler it started off me just being excited by
it started off me just being excited by
it started off me just being excited by the novelty of an Indian took took
the novelty of an Indian took took
the novelty of an Indian took took breaks it happened and it doesn’t matter
breaks it happened and it doesn’t matter
breaks it happened and it doesn’t matter about the way you voted in or out I
about the way you voted in or out I
about the way you voted in or out I realized that not many people actually
realized that not many people actually
realized that not many people actually know much about our 27 neighboring
know much about our 27 neighboring
know much about our 27 neighboring European Union countries I didn’t know
European Union countries I didn’t know
European Union countries I didn’t know anything about them I’d been to France a
anything about them I’d been to France a
anything about them I’d been to France a couple of times so why not actually
couple of times so why not actually
couple of times so why not actually learn about them speak to people by
learn about them speak to people by
learn about them speak to people by taking a little took took through all of
taking a little took took through all of
taking a little took took through all of those countries and after going through
those countries and after going through
those countries and after going through these 28 countries on the tik-tok I
these 28 countries on the tik-tok I
these 28 countries on the tik-tok I started to realize actually every day is
started to realize actually every day is
started to realize actually every day is an adventure it’s not about just these
an adventure it’s not about just these
an adventure it’s not about just these moments where you’re taking a bike
moments where you’re taking a bike
moments where you’re taking a bike around the world or a tuk-tuk around the
around the world or a tuk-tuk around the
around the world or a tuk-tuk around the European Union or you’re running a
European Union or you’re running a
European Union or you’re running a marathon or you’re doing something
marathon or you’re doing something
marathon or you’re doing something different every single day is some kind
different every single day is some kind
different every single day is some kind of adventure even on the bad days in
of adventure even on the bad days in
of adventure even on the bad days in that took – we still met different
that took – we still met different
that took – we still met different people we still heard incredible stories
people we still heard incredible stories
people we still heard incredible stories we still got to see things that we had
we still got to see things that we had
we still got to see things that we had never seen before and then I relate that
never seen before and then I relate that
never seen before and then I relate that to these days like I walk through campus
to these days like I walk through campus
to these days like I walk through campus and I see a a new thing that I’ve never
and I see a a new thing that I’ve never
and I see a a new thing that I’ve never seen before I take a different route to
seen before I take a different route to
seen before I take a different route to walk to university or a different way to
walk to university or a different way to
walk to university or a different way to cycle and you get to see different
cycle and you get to see different
cycle and you get to see different things and by making every little bit
things and by making every little bit
things and by making every little bit more and more adventurous it just makes
more and more adventurous it just makes
more and more adventurous it just makes life that little bit better so I hope
life that little bit better so I hope
life that little bit better so I hope I’ve encouraged people in some way to
I’ve encouraged people in some way to
I’ve encouraged people in some way to think how can I make not just the last
think how can I make not just the last
think how can I make not just the last week of my life like an adventure how
week of my life like an adventure how
week of my life like an adventure how can I make every day an adventure so I
can I make every day an adventure so I
can I make every day an adventure so I challenge you and I challenge me this –
challenge you and I challenge me this –
challenge you and I challenge me this – actually that when you leave today take
actually that when you leave today take
actually that when you leave today take a different route home walk somewhere
a different route home walk somewhere
a different route home walk somewhere different drive somewhere different stop
different drive somewhere different stop
different drive somewhere different stop off and look at what’s around you and
off and look at what’s around you and
off and look at what’s around you and spend five minutes just exploring speak
spend five minutes just exploring speak
spend five minutes just exploring speak to someone that you’ve never spoken to
to someone that you’ve never spoken to
to someone that you’ve never spoken to before because everyone has a story
before because everyone has a story
before because everyone has a story our lives are one big adventure so let’s
our lives are one big adventure so let’s
our lives are one big adventure so let’s make them a little bit more adventurous
make them a little bit more adventurous
make them a little bit more adventurous thank you
thank you
thank you you
”
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