'85 YEARS ON'
TURNING GRIEF INTO PURPOSE
HONOURING A GENERATION
INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS
THE MISSION
Lee and Jon James, brothers and founders of Team Cheerfulness and March for Nations respectively, will unite and carry out four extraordinary journeys with the aim of turning grief into purpose, honouring
a generation, and inspiring future generations, all whilst supporting Combat Stress & The Royal Marines Charity.
The original March for Nations expedition was founded in memory of Laura James, whose legacy continues to inspire our work and our commitment to remembrance. Building upon that foundation, our next four expeditions will also be inspired by the remarkable story of our 102-year-old grandfather, Robert Hardy, a Second World War and D-Day veteran.
Robert represents a generation that sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. Despite the passing of more than 80 years, he has spoken candidly about the lasting effects of war, explaining that he has never experienced a day without reliving memories of his wartime service. His experiences highlight the enduring impact of conflict and the importance of remembering not only those who served, but also the personal battles many veterans continued to face long after returning home. Through these expeditions, we aim to honour both Laura’s legacy and Robert’s generation, ensuring their stories continue to inspire future generations.
The Journey, aptly named ’85 YEARS ON’ will see the team follow in the footsteps of those before us, carrying out the following expeditions;
2027
Dieppe to St. Nazaire | 553km (345 miles) | 85th Anniversary of both Commando Raids on these Ports
2028
F-Force Route | 295km (183 miles) | 85th Anniversary of the route walked during the Burma – Thailand Railway construction
2029
North, East, South, West, of the United Kingdom followed by kayaking all of the Normandy invasion beaches in time for the D-Day Festival of Normandy Commemorations | 85th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings
2030
Sandakan to Ranau Death March | 260km (162 miles) | 85th Anniversary of this infamous Death March & the end of WW2
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EXPEDITION ONE, LISTEN TO JEREMY CLARKSON TELL THE STORY BELOW (this video will change to reflect each expedition)
Distribution of funds
Lee and Jon are dedicated to reaching their target of raising £20,000 per-expedition for our two charities, Combat Stress and The Royal Marines Association using no more than 20% of the total raised to cover expedition costs, such as accommodation, sustenance, specialist equipment and medical supplies. 80% of the total raised will be distributed between:
Combat Stress
