Marching Contingent
Jon James - Founder of March for Nations
March for Nations Success
Jon is a highly accomplished expedition leader, healthcare professional, and advocate for veterans’ wellbeing, whose achievements are exemplified by the extraordinary success of the original March for Nations expedition. In one of the most demanding endurance challenges of its kind, Jon completed a 777km journey across England, Wales, and Scotland, conquering the National Three Peaks and walking the entire distance between each mountain. Demonstrating exceptional resilience, determination, and leadership, he completed the challenge in a world record time while raising significant funds and awareness for veterans’ mental health and cancer care.
Charitable Impact
The expedition raised funds for both Combat Stress and St Gemma’s Hospice, supporting veterans facing mental health challenges and individuals and families affected by cancer who require end of life care. This remarkable achievement earned Jon the prestigious Combat Stress Fundraiser of the Year Award and established March for Nations as a powerful platform for supporting charitable causes, raising awareness, and inspiring others to overcome adversity.
Military and Expedition Experience
Drawing on more than three decades of military service, combined with extensive experience leading expeditions in some of the world’s most challenging environments, Jon has consistently demonstrated the ability to inspire others and succeed under pressure. His background in leadership, endurance, and expedition planning has enabled him to undertake complex challenges while motivating and supporting those around him.
Professional and Veterans’ Healthcare Leadership
Beyond his military career, Jon has built a successful career within the National Health Service, where he has led major programmes to improve healthcare services, including managing the team that redesigned and implemented the enhancement of mental health support for thousands of veterans through Op COURAGE in the North. His work has focused on delivering meaningful improvements in care, strengthening support pathways, and ensuring veterans have access to the services they do desperately need when fighting both the visible and invisible wounds of service.
Continuing Inspiration
Inspired by the memory of his late wife, Laura, and motivated by a lifelong commitment to helping others, Jon continues to undertake ambitious challenges that raise awareness, inspire communities, and deliver meaningful and lasting charitable impact. Through his combination of personal resilience, professional leadership, and dedication to service, he remains committed to supporting causes that make a real difference to people’s lives.
Lee James - Founder Team Cheerfulness
Atlantic Rowing Achievement
Lee is a highly accomplished behavioural consultant, and advocate for mental health and wellbeing, whose resilience and determination are exemplified by his participation in the World’s Toughest Row, one of the most demanding endurance challenges on the planet. Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, Lee demonstrated extraordinary physical and mental endurance, overcoming relentless conditions, isolation, and adversity in pursuit of a challenge that tests the limits of human performance. This remarkable achievement reflects the same commitment, courage, and perseverance that continue to define his work supporting others.
Impact on Veterans’ Mental Health
Following a distinguished military career, Lee has dedicated himself to improving the lives of veterans, positively impacting more than 6,000 individuals through his work as a behavioural consultant. Focusing on the challenges associated with transitioning from military to civilian life, he delivers training, coaching, and workshops that help veterans navigate change, build resilience, and develop the tools needed to thrive beyond their service careers.
Championing Invisible Wounds
Inspired by Jon & Lee’s Grandad, Robert, Lee is a passionate advocate for mental health, particularly committed to addressing the invisible wounds of service which Robert often spoke about, including PTSD and other non-physical injuries. Through his work, he helps veterans better understand and manage the psychological challenges they face, while also contributing to broader conversations around improving awareness, support, and treatment for trauma-related conditions within both the veteran and emergency services communities.
Leadership and Community Building
Lee’s impact extends far beyond individual support. Through his empathy, and natural ability to connect with people from all backgrounds, he encourages a culture of understanding, collaboration, and mutual support. His approach creates a safe and empowering environment where people feel valued, understood, and equipped to build meaningful futures, while strengthening the wider community of support around them.
Continuing Inspiration
Driven by a genuine commitment to helping others and drawing upon both his lived experience as a veteran and his personal achievements, Lee continues to inspire those facing adversity. Whether rowing across the Atlantic Ocean or supporting veterans through some of life’s most difficult challenges, he demonstrates that resilience, purpose, and determination can create lasting and meaningful change in the lives of others.