James wasn't dealt the best hand in life - Autism, Celiac disease, Epilepsy and there's always the Jokers in the pack, manifesting themselves in 'Challenging behaviour' which has got James in a spot of bother over the years.

I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for him, James just cracks on with it.

He ain't interested in much of day to day life but what he does love and quite frankly excels at is long distance walking.

He has always loved hiking and when a group of staff taught him to camp his horizons opened up considerably, he has since tackled quite a few long distance paths :- The Pennine Way ,Coast to Coast and Camino de Santiago (500 miles across Spain) to name a few of the better known ones, funding the trips himself and raising over £5000 for The National Autistic Society in the process.

Many people have facilitated these adventures from innovating Management (at the care home where he lives in the High Peak) to staff, friends and family willing to go the extra mile- literally and figuratively with the planning and donating time, gear and ideas.

In the process James has inspired many people, fellow residents at his home, members of the public, he's always first to pull his boots on regardless of conditions, never complains, our group always increases en route people seam attracted to his never give up attitude. He received standing ovations of spontaneous applause as we walked through towns in Spain as news spread.

A friend once commented " James is such a likeable chap, all he wants in life is a good yomp in the hills and a decent pint at the end of it and you can't say fairer than that!"

James embarked on his first flight a few years ago and the distance flown has been gradually increased, this has again opened up new opportunities to James. With that in mind and that he's 50 next year I would like to surprise him with what must be on every walkers bucket list- a trek up to Base Camp of Everest.

We have a forward thinking team of staff, ambition, experience and a proven past record. We just need funding.

You can follow James progress on his blog www.jamiebryan.blogspot.co.uk