The ‘Love You, Bye’ team have ditched the walking boots for cycling shorts!
Pedalling forward
The ‘Love You, Bye’ team have ditched the walking boots for cycling shorts!
by Danielle Murphy
On July 13th, a group of six friends will take to their bikes to ride nearly 200 kilometres across Cumbria — not for glory, but for something far more powerful: awareness, remembrance, and hope.
The team, known as Love You, Bye, are marking what would have been their friend James’ 46th birthday by cycling through every town he served in as a Cumbria Police officer — Whitehaven, Keswick, Cockermouth, Workington, Maryport, Carlisle, and Penrith. Their route spans 195.8km in a single day and honours a man who was not only a dedicated officer, but a devoted father, husband, and friend.
James tragically lost his life in 2023 after a long battle with his mental health. Since then, his loved ones have channelled their grief into action, raising awareness and funds to fight the silence that too often surrounds suicide.
Last year, on James’ 45th birthday, Love You, Bye completed a 45-mile walk from Whitehaven to Penrith, raising over £10,000 for Every Life Matters, a local suicide prevention charity that supported James’ family after his passing. The walk was a testament to James’ impact — and to how many lives suicide touches.
“In Cumbria, the suicide rate is 55% higher than the national average.”
This year, they’re pedalling forward with the same mission but a new charity in mind: Andy’s Man Club, a national organisation that provides safe spaces for men to speak openly about their mental health. The charity has recently launched several support groups across Cumbria and our county it seems, needs them now more than ever.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men aged 18–40 in the UK. In Cumbria, the suicide rate is 55% higher than the national average. Despite these alarming figures, conversations around suicide remain taboo — something Love You, Bye is determined to change.
“What we’re doing with these challenges is trying to get people talking,” said Paul, one of James’ closest friends and the event’s organiser. “Especially men — we want them to know it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to not be okay. You don’t have to suffer in silence.”
Following their cycling challenge, the team have also been asked to carry the Baton of Hope during its Cumbrian leg on September 7th — a national campaign that travels the UK aiming to raise awareness, spark conversations, and push for policy change around suicide prevention.
“To be part of the Baton of Hope in James’ honour means the world,” Paul added. “We’re proud to carry it through Cumbria — a county that’s been hit so hard by this issue. We need to look at why this is happening, and what more we can do to stop it.”
More information about the Baton of Hope’s mission can be found at www.batonofhopecumbria.co.uk
Love You, Bye is not just a tribute to a lost friend — it’s a call to action. To check in with your mates. To speak up. To listen. And to know that, no matter how dark things feel, there is always hope, and help, just around the corner.
You can donate via JustGiving here!
www.justgiving.com/team/loveyoubye
To learn more about what’s happening, follow Cumbria Guide on our social media
Share It:
