Xani lost his sister two years ago and is helping charities PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide and Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) and SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) by taking on a series of tandem cycle challenges as part of his Tandem Against Suicide UK campaign.
Xani, who is currently working as a trainee clinical psychologist at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), completed his second tandem cycling challenge on Friday (24 May 2024). He invited Brent Kilmurray, chief executive of the Trust to join him on this latest fundraising journey.
The pair cycled from Lanchester Road Hospital, a mental health and learning disability hospital for adults in Durham, to Lustrum Vale, an adult mental health rehabilitation unit in Stockton-on-Tees. Both sites are part of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
The 30-mile challenge took just over three hours to complete. Their journey took them through Durham city centre and along the River Wear towards Shotton Colliery and on cycle paths to Stockton.
Scotsman Xani explained: “I lost my sister, Alice, to suicide in January 2022. Over the years we’d talked about her joining me on the back of the tandem, to build up her confidence cycling around Edinburgh. Sadly, we never made time for it.
“Since Alice’s death, I’ve learned an enormous amount from others who have lost someone to suicide. My family has also received support from charities including PAPYRUS and SOBS and I wanted to find a way of giving back.”
Reflecting on his first tandem cycle, Brent said: “It was a great experience. I am absolutely in awe of what Xani has achieved in his sister’s memory and the way he is supporting the organisations that helped him.”
Xani is currently halfway towards his fundraising target, having just past the £50,000 mark.
He already completed an impressive 3,500-mile 88-day tandem ride around the UK’s coastline last summer. He was joined on his tandem bike each day by a different person bereaved by suicide. In recognition of the cycle, Xani received a Points of Light Award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community, and he was also invited to Downing Street.
Xani said: “Friday was a great day of riding on beautiful cycle paths through Durham and Stockton with an excellent discussion about suicide prevention.”
He added: “I’ll be cycling with a few other interesting people over the coming months and hope to do another bigger ride in a couple of years – depending on circumstances. I’ll be keeping the fundraiser open until I reach £100k so it’ll likely take a few more rides.
“These aren’t rides with Alice, but rides for Alice and for everyone who struggles with suicidal thoughts.”
Visit Xani’s Just Giving page to donate to Tandem Against Suicide UK Find information on what to do in a mental health crisis
