Gloucester fundraiser mugged at New Year's Eve party

A Gloucester fundraiser who is running across Canada in aid of sick children has been beaten-up and robbed during his New Year's Eve celebrations. 27 year-old Jamie McDonald said his bag containing film footage of his 5,000 mile journey as well as cash and credit cards were stolen in the unprovoked mugging. The incident is a major setback for the 27 year-old as he hopes to become the first person to run unaided across the country.

Jamie began his challenge to run from the east to west coast - the equivalent of about 200 marathons - in March. But as he arrived in ski resort Banff to see in 2014 with a crowd of people he was set up and robbed while moving from the street to an apartment building.

Jamie, from Tredworth, Gloucester, who is running most of the distance dressed as comic book superhero The Flash, said he had reported the incident to the local police. He is carrying out the challenge to show gratitude for the care he received as a child when he suffered from a debilitating immune deficiency and a rare spinal condition called syringomyelia. He has so far raised almost £70,000 for sick children's charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Gloucestershire's Pied Piper Appeal.