Meet the crew

Rory Buchanan, 27, is a commercial property investor. His sister Louisa, 31, has suffered from clinical depression for ten years

‘I have never put myself through anything like the physical and mental extremes that we will endure during this row. There is a clear link between what we are doing and the struggles we are trying to help with James’s Place. When you live with someone with mental health issues, it’s tough trying to understand their perspective. Ten years ago, when Louisa was diagnosed, there wasn’t as much known about the condition. It can be easy to miss. Her way of dealing with it was to take herself away from everyone. Fortunately, we were able to spot that something wasn’t right – she found it difficult to concentrate, she said strange things, she looked terrible – and get her to a place where she could receive help. People often think that a breakdown has to have a catalyst. But in Louisa’s case there wasn’t one – it can spiral simply when the person starts overthinking things. Keeping conversation open is key. As a crew, we are very aware of talking about our emotions. It’s difficult for men – it’s not in-built and society sees sharing feelings as feminine. It’s the curse of the modern man unfortunately.’

Sam Greenly, 27, a captain in the Scots Guards, has witnessed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

‘I’ve known Harry since we were at school and when James passed away I saw the effect it had on him – the person he had looked up to his whole life and one of his closest friends suddenly wasn’t there any more, and he didn’t have an explanation for it. When he approached me to do the row, I said yes straight away because it’s for a great cause and one that is extremely important to me, having encountered young men and women in the army who have suffered from PTSD. PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by highly stressful, frightening or distressing events. The Army has made great strides in accepting and treating it, especially after the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prince Harry referred to it as the “invisible injuries” of war when he opened the Invictus Games this year. Like James, these are young men steeped in the ethos of pride and masculinity and feeling unable to talk. An environment that breaks down barriers and lets people know that they are not alone, while providing a light at the end of the tunnel, is what James’s Place is about.’

Toby Fenwicke-Clennell, 27, is an investment director and has experienced mild depression

‘Harry, Sam and I were at school together. When James died we made sure we were always there to discuss it with Harry. The Row for James campaign is about the importance of talking about issues before they become a major problem. Four years ago I struggled with mild depression. I noticed I became very negative, full of worry; I was lacking in self-confidence and motivation – it was very draining. The hardest thing was not understanding what I was suffering from. Because I didn’t understand it, I couldn’t discuss it with anyone, I just suppressed it all. To stop the negative thoughts, I went out a lot, kept myself busy and started drinking more. Looking back, I can see it was a number of small things which, if I’d tackled them individually, would not have become such an issue. It is the accumulation that can build into a force that’s hard to deal with. That’s all in the past now. These days, I make an effort to talk more. I have seen through Harry that the willingness to talk goes a long way.’

To donate go to rowforjames.com