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James Gwinnett

From a broken neck and alcoholism to appearing on SAS: Who Dares Wins and running ultramarathons, James’ story of transformation is inspirational

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After a bad neck injury sustained playing rugby in 2013, ultra-fit and competitive James slipped into a dark spiral of alcoholism and depression, and at a particularly low ebb even sleeping rough.

Four years later, he found redemption in the form of a fitness challenge – running the London Marathon.

Starting his journey of sobriety, James conquered the marathon and has since gone on to test his body and his mind in a series of extreme endurance events, including running 100 miles in one day and taking part in Channel 4’s brutal Special Forces training show SAS: Who Dares Wins.

While continuing to push his physical and mental limits through increasingly arduous fitness challenges, he now focuses on helping others to build mental resilience and learn healthy habits that can enhance wellbeing through his work for 87%, an organisation using data to measure, understand and improve mental health in the workplace.

The themes James addresses in his talks include:

Wellbeing at work – the hidden pandemic of mental illness at work
Mental fitness – approaching mental health like physical health
Implementing personal and collective business-wide wellbeing strategies
How to build mental resilience and self-belief
The importance of goal-setting to fulfil your potential

“James delivered a brilliantly motivating presentation on the highs and lows of life in general, taking us though his early stellar playing rugby days, the self-pity of a career-ending injury and his personal rebuilding culminating in his appearance on SAS Who Dares Wins.

His frank and honest portrayal of the cruelties of life and how to conquer its lows was a fantastic lesson to the young boys, girls and audience as a whole.

2020 is the best example in living memory of how important these life skills are.”

John Costello, Tonbridge Juddians RFC Youth Chairman

“James was our guest speaker supporting Men’s Health Week and he shared his remarkable story of how, after breaking his neck, he fell into a spiral of alcoholism and depression. James talked about how he built up his resilience by taking on physical challenges and how he believes this can be applied to everyday life to encourage others to develop healthy habits and use goal setting to fulfil their potential. James was fantastic, articulate and inspiring and colleagues left the session with a new positive mindset. There were many questions from the participants which just highlighted their enthusiasm to learn more.”

Claire Biggar, Inclusion & Wellbeing Consultant, Edinburgh Napier University

James Gwinnet traversing a mountain gap on a ladder with ropes

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