Keynote , Mental Health and Motivational Speaker
Empowering Mental Wellbeing , Restoring Hope and Building Resilience
Understanding mental health is crucial in today's fast-paced world.
John Bell is an award-winning mental health advocate and keynote speaker who transforms personal tragedy into a message of strength and purpose.
His raw and authentic story moves audiences to reflect, connect, and take action — promoting wellbeing, empathy, and the importance of talking about mental health.
John Bell
John Bell’s story began with unimaginable personal loss.
In 2020, John’s world changed forever when he lost his 15-year-old son, Jake. The heartbreak of that moment reshaped his outlook on life and gave him a renewed sense of purpose — to dedicate himself to suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and the promotion of hope and self-belief.
Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, John’s journey back from darkness became one of courage, discipline, and resilience. Through his experience, he has channelled his pain into purpose — inspiring others to keep going, to find strength through struggle, and to believe that even in the darkest moments, hope can still be found.
In 2023, John founded Walking4Hope, a registered charity created to provide families and young people with support through recreational and outdoor activities designed to bolster mental wellbeing. The charity offers organised walks, talking groups, and signposting to further help and resources — using nature and community as powerful tools for healing.
As part of the charity’s fundraising and awareness campaigns, John takes on extreme walking challenges dressed as his son’s favourite superhero, Deadpool, while carrying a specially modified bathtub — a powerful symbol of the invisible weight carried by those struggling with mental health.
In April 2024, John completed one of his most remarkable challenges yet — walking from Mansfield to Wrexham over seven days, covering more than 140 miles with the bathtub in tow. His efforts caught the attention of Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds (a.k.a. Deadpool) and Rob McElhenney, who personally reached out to support John’s journey and invited him to London for an interview to help raise awareness for his cause.
That same year, John’s remarkable dedication was recognised nationally when he was honoured with the prestigious Points of Light Award, celebrating his outstanding contribution to mental health awareness and charitable work.
In 2025, John continued to inspire others, proudly serving as one of the Baton of Hope bearers during its tour of Great Britain — a national movement promoting suicide prevention — and later that year, he was named a regional winner in the Pride of Britain Awards.
Today, John remains committed to spreading a message of resilience, compassion, and hope — proving that even in the aftermath of tragedy, one person’s determination can spark a movement that changes lives
Key Note and Motivational Speaking
Inspirational Keynote Talks – Powerful Sessions Sharing John’s Personal Journey from Grief to Grit, Resilience Through Adversity, and Transforming Pain into Purpose
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Mental Health & Wellbeing Talks – raising awareness, breaking stigma, and promoting open conversations in workplaces, schools, and community settings.
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Resilience & Mindset Workshops – interactive sessions helping individuals and teams build mental toughness, adaptability, and self-belief.
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Motivational After-Dinner Speaking – engaging and emotionally charged talks perfect for charity dinners, corporate events, and conferences.
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School & Youth Engagement Talks – encouraging young people to talk about emotions, seek help, and build self-esteem and resilience.
Corporate & Organisational Services
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Workplace Wellbeing Seminars – practical sessions tailored to improve staff wellbeing, morale, and mental health awareness.
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Leadership & Team Resilience Training – helping business leaders and teams thrive under pressure through empathy, communication, and mindset tools.
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Charity & Community Event Hosting – emcee or host for fundraising and awareness events with lived-experience credibility.
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Tailored Corporate Keynotes – customised talks aligned with your organisation’s culture, values, or campaign themes (e.g. Mental Health Awareness Week)
Media & Public Engagement
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Podcast & Media Guest Appearances – featured guest sharing insights on resilience, grief, and hope (as seen in “Grief to Grit” and Walking4Hope).
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Panel Discussions & Q&A Sessions – authentic contributions to mental health, wellbeing, and community panels.
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Campaign Ambassador Roles – representing causes and mental health initiatives that align with John’s mission.
Special Experiences
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Walking for Wellbeing Sessions – guided outdoor sessions combining movement, mindfulness, and open conversation.
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“From Grief to Grit” Seminars – signature programme linking personal healing with purpose and leadership.
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Motivational Challenges & Fundraising Events – public appearances linked to John’s Walking4Hope charity challenges (e.g., “The Bathtub Walk”).
John Bell - Grief To Grit
The Podcast
Real stories. Raw Emotion. Remarkable Resilience.
Grief to Grit: The Podcast explores how ordinary people overcome extraordinary challenges. From grief and loss to growth and purpose and grit and determination to achieve, every episode shares powerful conversations that prove no matter how dark and low life gets, there is always light ahead
Starting
February 2026
Walking4Hope
Walking4Hope is a UK-based mental health charity established in 2023, dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by poor mental health, grief, and suicide.
Founded by John Bell, the charity uses walking, nature, and conversation to reduce isolation, encourage openness, and promote positive mental wellbeing. Through organised walks, talking groups, and signposting to further support, Walking4Hope creates safe spaces where people feel heard, supported, and never alone.
At its heart, Walking4Hope exists to remind people that hope is always within reach — and no one has to walk their journey alone.
Registered Charity Number 1202602
Click The Button Below For The Walking4Hope Website
Upcoming Challenges
John Personal Journey- Jakes 21st Birthday
From 16th to 21st January 2026, John Bell will be undertaking a deeply personal walk from Inverness to Glasgow, following the iconic Great Glen Way and West Highland Way, covering over 180 miles in 5 days.
This walk is not a fundraising challenge or a public event — it is a walk of remembrance.
John is walking in memory of his son, Jake, marking what would have been Jake’s 21st birthday. Each mile represents love, reflection, and the unbreakable bond between a father and son. Walking through some of Scotland’s most powerful and remote landscapes in the heart of winter, John will be carrying Jake with him every step of the way.
For John, walking has always been a way to process grief, find clarity, and honour his son’s life. This journey is about taking time, creating space, and quietly acknowledging the significance of this moment.
Walk Details
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Route: Inverness to Glasgow
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Trails: Great Glen Way & West Highland Way
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Dates: 16th – 21st January 2026
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Purpose: In loving memory of Jake on his 21st birthday
Join or Show Support
While this is a personal walk, anyone who would like to meet up with John along the route to wish him well is very welcome. Whether it’s a few words of encouragement, a short walk alongside him, or simply a wave of support — it will all be received with gratitude.
No pressure. No expectations. Just human connection.
If you see John on the trail, feel free to stop, say hello, and share a moment. Sometimes, the smallest gestures mean the most.
Walking in memory. Walking with love. Walking for Jake
100 Miles with the Bath
8th and 9th February 2026
John’s 100-Mile Training Challenge – Sutton-in-Ashfield Reservoir, Nottinghamshire.
As part of his preparation for the epic John o' Groats challenge, John Bell is taking on a tough local test — walking 100 miles around Sutton-in-Ashfield Reservoir.
This endurance walk is all about building strength, resilience, and momentum ahead of the much bigger journey to come — both physically and mentally. Every mile represents the commitment, grit, and determination that sits at the heart of John’s mission to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention through Walking4Hope.
🚶 Want to be part of it?
John is inviting anyone and everyone to come along and support him:
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Join for a single lap
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Walk a few miles
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Or, if you’re feeling brave, take on the full 100 miles
Whether you walk, talk, listen, or simply show up, your support means everything. Come be part of the journey, share the miles, and help spread a message of hope — one step at a time 💛
John Bell’s Ultimate Challenge: John O’Groats to Land’s End – 17th April 2026
In April 2026, John Bell will take on one of the most demanding endurance challenges the UK has to offer — walking from John O'Groats to Land's End, covering over 1,000 miles in just 36 days.
The challenge begins on 17th April 2026 and will see John averaging close to 30 miles a day, day after day, across the length of Great Britain. But this is no ordinary walk.
As with his previous challenges, John will complete the entire journey carrying a specially adapted bathtub — a powerful and unmistakable symbol of the invisible weight carried by those living with grief, mental ill-health, and emotional pain. The bathtub represents the burdens so many people carry silently, and John’s determination to keep moving forward no matter how heavy that weight becomes.
This walk is about far more than distance or endurance. It is about:
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Raising awareness around mental health and suicide prevention
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Honouring lived experience and those we’ve lost
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Showing what resilience looks like in action
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Encouraging conversation, connection, and hope
Throughout the 36-day journey, John will pass through towns, cities, villages, and communities across the UK — meeting people, sharing stories, and reminding others that no one has to walk their struggles alone.
The John O’Groats to Land’s End challenge forms a major part of John’s ongoing Grief to Grit journey — turning pain into purpose, and proving that even the heaviest loads can be carried when we choose to keep going.
👉 Follow the journey. Walk alongside him. Support the mission.
Whether you join John for a few miles, cheer him on roadside, or support from afar, every step helps spread a message of strength, compassion, and hope.
If you’d like to support John’s upcoming challenges, donations can be made via our JustGiving page. Every contribution helps carry the message further with each mile walked
Click The Button Below To Make A Donation
Subscribe to
The Grief to Grit Newsletter
Every two weeks, John shares an honest and uplifting update from the heart of his Grief to Grit journey.
By subscribing to the Grief to Grit newsletter, you’ll receive:
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Messages of hope, resilience, and encouragement
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Updates on John’s walking challenges and upcoming events
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News from Grief to Grit and his charity work with Walking4Hope
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Reflections on life, loss, healing, and the small wins along the way
This isn’t a sales email or a polished press release — it’s a genuine check-in, written to remind you that you’re not alone, that progress is possible, and that even in difficult moments, hope can still be found.
Join the Grief to Grit community and receive John’s newsletter straight to your inbox every fortnight.
A few quiet minutes to pause, reflect, and keep moving forward — together.
Video Gallery
Interview with Ryan Reynolds
The Trial Run with the Bath Before the Big Walk to Wrexham
John Receiving The Pride of Britain Award
The Batton of Hope - Lincoln
Upcoming Challenges
How I Keep Showing Up
Picture Gallery
Benidorm or Bust Charity Fundraiser May 23 / May 24
Mansfield Town FC to Wrexham A.F.C Charity Walk - March 2024
The Batton of Hope - Wrexham October 2025
Pride of Britain Awards - London October 2025
Get in Touch
0044 7738628314
G2G Productions and Training
Company Number : 16780310
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Book John for Your Next Event
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Bring John’s powerful story of hope, resilience, and mental wellbeing to your audience.
Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, wellbeing day, school assembly, charity fundraiser, or conference — John’s keynote talks are tailored to inspire and make a lasting impact. -
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