the 4th of January last year the world lost a bit of its shine and joy. James contracted COVID and died of heart failure just 4 days later. It will never make sense to me how a person who was living life with so much purpose was taken so young.

James represented Australia in two sports, was completing a double degree in Computational biology and Advanced Science, he had just been awarded the National Science and Innovation Award for Young People and had a successful business as hens party performer. The list goes on. Anyone who met James knew he was extremely driven and he had an infectious ability to breed success around him. He was loved by everyone he met and had the ability to light up a room with his smile and laughter. He leaves behind a loving family and girlfriend who will never fill the void that was left. He was always working on and motivating others to become better versions of themselves.

James was always doing incredible things and his legacy will always inspire me to try do the same. This year me and Mitch Bourke will be running the Brighton 50km in memory of James. We will be raising money for the Heart Foundation Australia to help continue research into cardiac events especially in young people. We’d also like to raise awareness that even young people can experience cardiac complications and it’s worth taking care of your heart health. If its within your means to donate any amount it would mean the world to me and would help the Legacy of the great man James was.