Royal Air Force veteran and Surrey business owner, James Shaw, is pushing himself to the limit to raise £10,000 for the Forces Employment Charity, a cause close to his heart.
Each Tough Mudder event is packed with mud, fire, ice and walls to climb, pushing participants to the limit. James is preparing to take on the 15km South West obstacle course this weekend. His final Tough Mudder event will be in Horsham on 20 September. He will tackle 15km of woodland trails, rolling terrain, and seriously muddy obstacles there.
James’ story
James, who served as a weapons technician with the RAF and was deployed to Afghanistan, has already completed four Tough Mudder events this year. Including the World’s Toughest Mudder in June, where he covered 50 miles and 150 obstacles over 24 hours. He is determined to reach his fundraising goal and give back to the Armed Forces community, which helped shape his life.
James joined the military in 2008, at the age of 20, to fulfil the dream of his older brother Scott, who had sadly passed away at just 27 years old. “Scott always wanted to serve in the Royal Air Force, but couldn’t because of his asthma,” James explains. “After he died, I felt like the best way to honour him was to live the life he never got the chance to.”
In 2012, James left the military and, without any real support, threw himself into building a future from scratch. He now runs a thriving business in the compressed air industry. And is part of a working group with the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) to recruit from the Armed Forces talent pool. Many of whom, like James, have highly transferrable skills and values from their time in the military.
“I was lucky. I had the confidence and drive to figure things out,” says James. “But not everyone leaves the military with that same head start. The Forces Employment Charity helps bridge that gap—and that’s why I’m doing this.”
Giving back to the Armed Forces community
The Forces Employment Charity provides life-long, life-changing support, jobs and training opportunities to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. Whatever the circumstances, rank, length of service, or reasons for leaving.
“When I left, there was no one checking up on me. No one asked if I’d found work. That’s why this charity matters. They make sure no veteran gets forgotten.”
Through his fundraising campaign, James also wants to raise awareness of the positive impact the military can have not just during service but also in preparing individuals for life.
“The military made me a better person. It has given me discipline, confidence, and pride in my work. Doing these challenges is about showing others what’s possible, and making sure the Forces community have the support they deserve when they take the next step.”
James is committed to completing all seven Tough Mudder challenges across the UK. He’s already completed the World’s Toughest Mudder, a 24-hour endurance event that pushed him through 50 punishing miles and 150 obstacles. Battling exhaustion, bitter cold, and blisters, James found strength in the people in his cockpit and around him.
“At about 4 am, I broke down. My body was failing, and my mind was too. But my dad, who was there crewing for me, just hugged me and said, ‘Get one more lap done, we’ll talk about the next one later.’ That moment brought me back to life.”
Throughout the race, competitors became comrades. Strangers pulled each other through trenches, boosted one another over walls, and shared words of encouragement when the darkness set in. “It reminded me of my time in the military,” James says. “Everyone is looking out for each other. No one gets left behind.”
With a family, a successful business, and his son preparing to join the British Army, James’s life is firmly rooted in the Force’s community – from past, present, and future. Every step he runs is a step for all of them.
Support James’ mission
James has raised £2,630 to date, but he hopes his story inspires more people to support his cause. You can help by:
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Donating to his fundraising page and helping him reach the £10,000 goal.
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Watching his Tough Mudder challenges on LinkedIn or Facebook— and sharing his story to spread the word.
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Cheering him on at upcoming events or leaving messages of encouragement online.
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Introducing his campaign to friends, local groups, or businesses who might sponsor or donate.
Every action, big or small, brings James closer to his mission to support the Armed Forces community.
