My story

Hello. Welcome to the Just Giving page of Magic 105.4's Jamie Edwards.

To coincide with the launch of RIO, a 3D motion picture comedy-adventure which centres on Blu, a rare macaw who leaves the comforts of his cage in small town Minnesota for the exotic wonders of Rio de Janeiro, Jamie has agreed to take to the air, in a rather unconvensional way!

To get into the sprit of the movie, Jamie (who's used to mixing with the stars), has agreed to get a little closer to them, by getting the 'Rio' treatment in aid of Magic's charity Cash For Kids - strapped to the wing of a bi-plane!

You can view the full video of the challenge at www.magic.co.uk/charity (See Jamie Fly)

Here's his diary of the build up to the challenge, and the day itself...

"So here I stand, nearly 2 stone lighter than a fortnight ago, and about to be strapped to the wings of a plane!
My Rio adventure has been one if the biggest challenges of my life, and not just because I didn't like heights! The legal weight limit to wing walk in the UK is a featherlike 12st 1lb. When I found this out I'd already agreed to take on the challenge in aid of Cash For Kids, and donations were already pledged - there was no way out! Before I could take to the skies I had a battle with the bulge to win...

At around 14 stone, I was straight onto a strict diet - NO carbs, NO added sugars, just PLENTY of protein and water! I began visiting the gym every morning before work for a run, cycle or row and enlisted the help of Personal Trainer John Mills (an ex-Royal Marine) at my local Virgin Active. A combination of a better diet and tough work outs began to prove their worth but it wasn't enough. I'd heard that Destiny's Child singer Beyonce Knowles had tried a great crash diet plan - a 48hr detox of Cayenne Pepper, Maple Syrup, Chilli, Cinnamon and Lemonade, (sounds disgusting but tastes quite nice!). Time was running out. I had to try it!

Thankfully my flight session, which had been due after a week of finding out the weight limit, was moved back to the following week, so I had more chances to get to the gym and a second week in which I could detox. My friends Colin and Shirley had given me a small bear wearing his goggles and flight jacket, as a good luck charm, and he was proving to be good inspiration as I looked at him every morning, all svelte and ready to fly!

With a day to go, I was noticeably thinner, but still 3lbs off my target weight. Drastic measures were called for! I'd remembered seeing a feature on GMTV once about a clinic in Harley Street called Aqualibria. Through a technique called Open Colonic, I might be able to shift the remaining pounds. I made the call! Having arranged a visit that night, I surprised myself at my willingness to go through with this! Thankfully, when I got there I was greeted by Velile Ndebele the clinical director, who immediately put me at ease. Although they don't recommend this treatment solely as a rapid weight loss programme it is one of benefits, on top of giving your body a well deserved cleanse! The technique wasn't painful or in fact anywhere near as intrusive as I imagined, but had it worked?! Well, I felt better, that's for sure, but I was going to have to wait until morning to see if the weight had gone.
When I woke up on the morning of the challenge, I rushed straight to the gym! I had my last full work out with John, and he was going to sweat the last few pounds out if me if it killed me! With that done, I was sent on my way with instructions to drink as much water as possible, up to the point that I needed to get the train to Cheltenham where the plane was.

I still had my day job to do before that though, so I made my way to the Dorchester Hotel, along with my mascot Biggles Bear where I was to interview the stars of Red Riding Hood. They were all intrigued by my challenge and the rapid way I'd managed to shift the weight! With good luck messages ringing in my ears, and a photo op with the gorgeous Amanda Seyfried (along with Biggles) in the bag, I rushed off to Paddington to get my train!
It's in these moments where I may have won my battle, because in the rush to get there, streams of sweat started pouring from my head. I made one last toilet break (sorry, but it's true)...by now I must have been light enough!?
When I arrived, the scales awaited, and with a crafty little lift of the toes my fate lay in the dial below me... 12 Stone 1lb!

I'D DONE IT!!!

With all that had gone on in the previous two weeks, I'd actually forgotten that my real challenge was to get strapped to a plane, so I hadn't really worried about it too much! No one had given me a hope in hell's chance of making the weight so I guess I didn't really believe I'd have to do it anyway! But here I was, half the man I'd been just a couple of weeks before, getting my harness fitted by Mike the pilot! Sadly, Biggles was told he was grounded, for fear of being wind swept off into the horizon...As Mike started the propeller, I got nervous! Reality had set in, I was stuck! There was no going back...I was doing this now, whether I liked it or not!

We taxied to the runway, Mike cut the engine and shouted "Ready?" I put my thumbs in the air, the engine powered up and we were off. At 80mph I felt the wheels lift off the tarmac and I was flying! This was great! I put my arms out as though I had wings of my own and then remembered the scene in the film Rio where Blu (the macaw who can't fly and the inspiration for this challenge) did the same while on a paraglider. He caught the wind an flew back off his machine. Luckily, I was so tightly strapped in, that although my legs were being blown back, I was going nowhere.
At a thousand foot high, on a glorious day in Cheltenham I could see for miles. I looked down at the tiny shadow of the plane crossing a golf course. The sound of the wind in my ears was deafening, but this was truly amazing. I waved at a golfer looking up just before he took his putt. He waved back, and promptly missed his shot! I felt bad but by now we'd already moved sufficiently far enough away for me not to have to see his playing partner laughing his head off!

For 15 minutes we flew around, Mike tipping the wings from side to side occasionally just to give me a feel of dropping. It was such a liberating feeling and my fear of heights was non existent. As we began our decent, I tried to shout how brilliant it was to the camera on the wing, but the noise of the wind was still drowning me out!

We touched down, and I let out a cheer for joy. In the film, it's Blu's friends who help him to realise 'what it really means to soar'. With the help of John, Vel, Mike and the support of friends and family through donations, I now knew what this felt like too!

I must pass on my thanks to everyone involved in making this happen for me, and if you donated money to what is a fantastic cause (Cash For Kids), you can be assured it will get used to make real children's lives safer and happier! For that, more than anything, I thank you!

It's not too late to sponsor Jamie!  Please give what you can, no matter how small the donation, it's greatfully recieved. Thank you.

My gallery 8

My Teams

My company

My charity

Magic 105.4's Cash for Kids

Magic 105.4's Cash for Kids

Charity Registration No. 1122062

Cash for Kids aims to support local children under the age of 18, who are financially, socially, emotionally or physically disadvantaged. Also to encourage healthy lifestyle options by promoting physical, mental and general wellbeing of children and adolescents within the Magic 105.4 region.

Donations 28

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To infinity....oh that's anothre film. Well done J

Donation by Stephen Hart on 20/04/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Well done Jamie. My stomach is a mess even thinking about it x

Donation by Beci Wood on 20/04/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Well done Jamie, you did it!

Donation by Anna and Daniel on 12/04/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Nice one James. Very impressed!

Donation by Steve and Rach on 07/04/11

£20.00

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Good luck! x

Donation by natalie Jackson on 07/04/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck Jamie Love Aran and Andy x

Donation by Aran and Andy on 07/04/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Such a massive effort Janmie... WELL DONE AND RESPECT!!! xx

Donation by becky graham on 07/04/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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I'm really impressed you are doing this, well done and enjoy yourself

Donation by Linda Russell on 06/04/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Get down, Shep!

Donation by Andy Westcott on 04/04/11

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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Don't forget to wear your brown pants!! Good luck James

Donation by Mum, Dad & Nanna on 03/04/11

£80.00

+ £22.56 Gift Aid

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The plane is high and you better be holding on blondie...Good luck! Barns

Donation by Barnaby Thornton on 01/04/11

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

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OMG.... Good luck and DON'T look down! Alison xxxx

Donation by Alison Finch on 01/04/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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Just Don't Look Down and don't try any dance moves !! x

Donation by Sheena Mason on 01/04/11

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

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Crazy fool. Go Jamie, fly like the wind!

Donation by Robbie McIntosh on 31/03/11

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

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Good luck Jamie!!!!

Donation by Natalie & Sean on 28/03/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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Just like Peter Pan huh Jamima!? Enjoy!

Donation by Natalie Lonsdale on 28/03/11

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

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I'll double it, if the plane flies to Jo'Burg! : ) Can't believe you're doing this!! Good Luck!!!!! xxx

Donation by Tara Mallett on 28/03/11

£20.00

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Good luck,Jamie. We always knew you would go up in the world!

Donation by Linda & Juan Rubio on 26/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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At least you won't have to bother with hair gel that day. And remember ... DON'T LOOK DOWN!!!!

Donation by Shirley Page on 25/03/11

£15.00

+ £4.23 Gift Aid

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Rather you than me, pal...good luck!

Donation by Nick Boyles on 25/03/11

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

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Good luck bro. Don't forget to pull off some cool moves.

Donation by Chris & Michelle on 24/03/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?You're gonna do whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Eyes to the skies Jamie,eyes to the skies!Kx

Donation by Kim Wilde on 24/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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Enjoy the experience, you crazy person xxx

Donation by Nicky Tranter on 24/03/11

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

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Oooo sounds scary! Good luck and looking forward to seeing the video xxx

Donation by Erin and Paul on 22/03/11

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

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You're a nutter! Good luck xx

Donation by Rachel Tregenza on 21/03/11

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£590.00
  • Offline donations£85.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£675.00
  • Gift Aid£152.40

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.