Windmill Projects is proud to announce our nomination for the West Sussex Local Hero’s Award 2025 in association with More Radio
Meet James Cooper aka @smilingggman, a true inspiration and local hero.
Being driven by the loss of his uncle to suicide in 2017, with traditional gender roles paying a huge part in why male suicide is not openly discussed, James found the drive to generate awareness. He created the “Smilinggg365” challenge to run a marathon a day for a year. Starting on 1st January 2024 and through all the usual British weather of snow, hale, wind, rain and the occasional sun he ran 26.2 miles for 366 days straight (it was a leap year) finishing on 31st December 2024.
At Windmill Projects, we believe in celebrating individuals who go above and beyond to make a meaningful difference — not only in their own lives but in the lives of others. James’s extraordinary commitment to running a marathon every single day throughout 2024 — in all weather, through injuries, and across 366 consecutive days is a powerful reflection of resilience, purpose, and community spirit. What began as a personal journey to honour his uncle quickly became a beacon of hope, raising over £134,000 for the Samaritans and inspiring countless others to engage in conversations around mental health and wellbeing. As a business that values integrity, compassion, and perseverance, we deeply connect with James’s mission to create positive change. His story reminds us that small, consistent actions can lead to extraordinary impact — a mindset that mirrors how we approach our work, our people, and our community. We are honoured to support James’s journey and encourage everyone to vote for a true local hero who ran not for recognition, but for love, loss, and the betterment of others.