James Wright was born in St. Louis, MO, and raised in Springfield, IL. As a child, he stayed on a straight and narrow path. Whenever he set a goal, he fixed his sights on it and pursued it with determination. He was deeply involved in the church from the age of 11 and quickly earned the nicknames “preacher boy” and “boy wonder” because of his outspoken nature and maturity beyond his years.

During his time at Morehouse College, James studied abroad in Japan for one year to learn the Japanese language, a goal he had set for himself when he was 12 years old. He went on to work for 20 years in the financial services industry, both domestically and abroad.

James was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2015. He retired from his corporate career as a marketing executive in 2016 and became the owner of a franchise day spa in the Philadelphia area, which he operated for eight years until 2023. In August of 2021, he relocated to the Tampa Bay area with his wife and two children. Since then, he has proudly taken on the role of “daddy Uber,” driving his children to and from school and their many activities—something he enjoys immensely.

James has become an advocate, taking a more public-facing role in the fight against ALS and working to raise awareness about the disease. In 2024, he spoke at a wellness conference about knowing your numbers and listening to your body, participated in a Fox News interview with the ALS Association to raise awareness about the anniversary of the Ice Bucket Challenge, and joined the annual ALS Walk to raise funds and awareness.

He is a first-time author and shares his experiences battling ALS through regular posts on four social media platforms. Alongside his wife, he also leads a Married Life Bible Study group at Grace Family Church.

His motto since being diagnosed with the disease is: “A Body in Motion Stays in Motion!”