2026 marks 20 years since I lost my brother James to suicide.

Over the past year, I’ve quietly been planning a challenge to mark this milestone. As all 15 of my Strava followers may have clocked, training has been in full swing since last summer…

The challenge is called Journey for James - a 400-mile ultra-endurance triathlon, involving cycling, paddleboarding, and running between the James’ Place centres:

169-mile cycle: Newcastle → Liverpool

107-mile paddleboard: Liverpool → Birmingham

135-mile run: Birmingham → London

The journey will start in Newcastle, where James was studying when he died, and finish in London, visiting each of the James’ Place centres along the way. The challenge will take place in May 2026 (exact dates TBC). I am aiming to complete it in 8 days, raising as much money as possible for James’ Place in the process.

For those who don’t know, James’ Place is a charity we founded in memory of James, providing dedicated support for men in suicidal crisis.

In the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 35 and men consistently account for around three-quarters of suicides.

We believe that no man should face a suicidal crisis alone. James' Place provides free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle, with Birmingham due to open in 2026. Since opening the first centre in 2018, we have helped more than 4,300 men through their crisis.

Back in 2016, to mark 10 years since losing James, I rowed across the Atlantic with three incredible friends. Row For James helped fund the first James’ Place centre in Liverpool.

This new challenge is all about raising funds for our 5th centre (location still under wraps!). With your support, we can make it happen in 2027.

James’ memory lives on through James’ Place — and with your help, we can ensure even more men in crisis get the lifesaving support they need.