WHO AM I?
Hi!
I'm James and thank you for taking the time to visit my site.
I'm an adventurer, musician, charity fundraiser and extreme sports enthusiast. I grew up in a small village on top of what seemed like the windiest, rainiest valley in West Yorkshire, UK and loved the outdoors, extreme weather and sports deemed mad, bad and dangerous by most. My parents quickly accepted the reality that their son would almost always arrive home battered and bruised, covered in mud but always with a story to tell and a smile on his face.
I discovered music and a deep passion for drums in my late teens and a few years later was accepted into a fantastic music college in London. Coming from a small village, I had ambitious dreams of becoming a professional musician and drummer.
However, after graduating and preparing to embark on my first tour of Canada and America, I fell very ill, very suddenly and after a flurry of tests at various hospitals, I was left a scared and confused in-patient at St. Georges Hospital, London with end-stage renal (kidney) failure at the age of 21...
RECOVERY AND REALISATION
With my Grandma dying from kidney failure before I was born and her daughter, my mum, suffering from kidney problems for years, we knew there was a genetic kidney condition in the family but it had certainly never attacked with such ferocity and effectiveness before. My kidneys were irreversibly damaged, I needed a kidney transplant as a matter of urgency.
After a very stressful year for my whole family, dark days on kidney dialysis and seemingly endless tests, the amazing staff at St.Georges Hospital successfully performed a kidney transplant, with the kidney being donated by my unbelievably brave sister who at the age of 18 became the youngest ever donor at St George’s.
A genuine hero.
Whilst at home recovering with my sister and family, and with doctors encouraging me to start to enjoy a normal life again, I had the realisation that I would work hard, making my life a life worthwhile so I could in my own small way, repay and honour all these fantastic people who had saved it.
DRIVE AND DETERMINATION
As well as my new kidney I now had my new mindset, my new drive, and worked hard to resurrect my music career. Since then I've been incredibly fortunate to tour the world, performing alongside amazing artists such as David A. Stewart (Eurythmics), Paloma Faith, and Leona Lewis at festivals and venues such as Glastonbury, SXSW, EXIT festival, Shepherd's Bush Empire and the Roundhouse. During my 15 years in the music industry, I've also recorded over 20 albums in studios such as Abbey Road, Pinewood and Rockfield. You can read more on my music page here.
With years of good health and a happy kidney, my adventurous side resurfaced and I've again become that muddy, bruised village boy, growing to love snowboarding and kitesurfing in particular. Powering down mountainsides, floating through snowy backcountry forests, or cruising along shimmering oceans jumping as high into the air as I can with my kite makes me feel alive.
I've grown from that slightly wild village boy into a positive, ambitious, determined, driven (and probably still slightly wild!) man. I love to face a challenge head-on, each one fueling me to push onto bigger, bolder adventures. Three of my previous expeditions have been world-firsts for an organ transplant patient and traversing Greenland in May 2024 was the largest world-first I've ever conceived. You can learn more about it here.
LIVING A WORTHWHILE LIFE
In recognition of my sister and the people who saved my life back in 2007, I've always felt I should do more. After 17 years of amazing care from the unbelievable staff at St.Georges, I've become very passionate about the NHS, and the hospital which means so much to me and my family and always will.
I became truly determined to do more after my mum, the kindest, strongest, most loving, determined and hardworking person I've ever known, passed away in 2020 after fighting kidney failure for so long and I now combine my passion for adventure with fundraising for St.Georges Hospital and the NHS - an indispensable organisation, hospital and group of people who worked so hard for me, my mum and save countless lives and families every day despite years of financial restriction.
You can learn all about my fundraising work on my charity page here.
I choose extreme adventures and expeditions not only to raise as much as I can for the NHS but to also raise awareness about chronic organ donation shortages, push my boundaries and the boundaries and perceptions of what organ transplant patients can achieve. Years of talking with fellow patients about their worries and fears after receiving an organ transplant or the endless unknowns while waiting for a life-changing transplant have led me to try and inspire transplant patients all around the world to stay positive, have hope, push their boundaries, dream bigger and live their lives to the max. After all, hope and positivity are crucial elements of any transplant patient's long journey.
If you'd like to learn more about anything mentioned, or get involved in any way and join the adventure, please get in touch!