A local motorcyclist has been recognized with a King's Honour for his dedication to mental health after establishing a charity in the wake of a friend's tragic death. Paul Oxborough, aged 56, has been appointed an OBE in the King's birthday honours list. He launched the charity Mental Health Motorbike in October 2019 following the suicide of his friend, Dale Caffrey, who was 38 years old.
Emotional Dedication
Accepting the award with emotion, Paul dedicated the honour to his late friend and all those impacted by suicide. Born and raised in Rotherham, Paul has resided in Chesterfield for 23 years. He expressed: “Receiving this OBE leaves me deeply humbled and extremely honoured. But my mind goes back to a funeral six and a half years ago. There, I made a promise to a family of a friend I’d lost: that I would do everything in my power to stop others from ending their lives by suicide.”
He continued: “I didn’t start this charity to win awards, but this honour is a profound validation of how important our work is. It lights a renewed fire for me and the team about how we must keep doing what we do. I dedicate this OBE to the millions of hearts broken by suicide; you are the reason we do what we do. We will keep building that safety blanket of support for those who need us so the loss of our loved ones isn’t in vain.”
Charity Growth and Impact
Since its launch in March 2020, the project has evolved into the country’s largest dedicated support charity for the motorbike community. The team has successfully established a national network of 1,300 life-saving mental health first aiders. Additionally, the charity operates a 24-hour online support group with over 5,000 members and maintains a presence at biking events nationwide.
Anne Moore, a charity trustee, commented: “Paul has been an inspiration to so many motorcyclists through his work in building Mental Health Motorbike over the last six years. His vision has given bikers the safe space that they need, which has, in many cases, been a lifeline. He has been a tireless advocate for breaking the stigma of poor mental health and has created a community where vulnerability is met with compassion, acceptance and support. We are in awe of Paul’s vision, energy and dedication, which has enabled Mental Health Motorbike to make a difference to countless lives every day.”
