Paralympian cyclist and charity founder will inspire students at UHI Inverness graduation
AN elite para cyclist from Ross-shire who has achieved both Paralympic and world championship glory will be the guest speaker at the UHI Inverness Graduation this Friday.
Fin Graham MBE, who grew up in Strathpeffer, will return to the Highlands to address the graduates at both morning and afternoon ceremonies at Eden Court Theatre on 31 October.
Patrick Mullery, founder of the James Support Group, will also share words of encouragement with the graduates after he receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) for his outstanding contribution to mental health support and community wellbeing across the Highlands.
Patrick Mullery
Patrick from Cromarty will be honoured alongside his daughter Dorothy who will graduate with an HND in Beauty Therapy at the same ceremony.
Approximately 1,100 people are expected to attend the event. Nearly 300 graduates will be joined by their guests, special prize winners, staff and invited guests from industry and the community.
Fin said:
"It’s an honour to be invited back home to the Highlands for this year's UHI Inverness Graduation. To get the chance to speak to graduates at this pivotal moment, as they begin the next chapter in their lives, is very special.”
The day before the ceremony Fin will visit the campus for a question and answer with current students, where he will be reunited with Mark Murray, a sport lecturer at UHI Inverness who was involved in some of Fin’s coaching when he was a development athlete.
Fin’s talent was spotted by the Great Britain Cycling Team in 2016, and he has gone on to dominate in both road and track. He clinched his fourth successive World Champion in road racing just last month in Belgium.
He won silver medals in both the road race and track individual pursuit at Tokyo 2020 and in Paris 2024 he claimed gold in the road race and silver in the 3000m individual pursuit. The 26-year-old was awarded an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for his services to cycling.
The Mullery family established James Support Group six months after the loss of their 28-year-old son James in 2017.
Patrick now runs a 24-hour helpline and support groups throughout the Highlands. He also supports UHI Inverness student and staff mental health through workshops, drop-in sessions, one-to-one meetings and at information events. His insight has helped to shape its wellbeing and counselling services and driven involvement in regional prevention groups.
Patrick said: “It is wonderful that our work has been recognised in this way because it is important and needed in our communities. This honour means the world to me and is a highlight of my career.
“Our home is James Support Group, where suicide is spoken about every day, and that can be difficult as we are never far away from this dreadful loss of ours. However, as a family we take pride in what we have built, a legacy if you like.
“Our relationship with UHI Inverness has gone from strength to strength and it is extremely satisfying to be met with smiles, waves and hellos from many students and staff alike whenever I am on campus.”