MEMBERS of West Mercia Police set off on a three-day, 200-mile-long cycle challenge earlier this month to raise awareness of officers who had died in the line of duty.
The cyclists started the Police Unity Tour Cycle Challenge from Hindlip Hall on Friday, August 19 to raise cash for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.
Each member taking part sported a coloured wristband dedicated to a fallen colleague throughout their journey, which ended at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday, where teams across England and Wales attended the COPS memorial service.
The service was attended by the families of fallen officers, Police Federation officials and other policing partners.
Among the cyclists taking part was West Mercia Police Federation secretary Steve Butler, who has taken on the challenge for the fourth time.
Steve was among a group of 30 riders from West Midlands regions to take part in the cycle tour.
Between them, they have raised more than £11,100 through their JustGiving pages, with Steve’s page generating over £1,776.
West Mercia Police Federation, the branch Group Insurance Scheme and West Mercia Police Welfare Fund have donated £500 each for the West Mercia riders taking part.
Steve said on his JustGiving page: “I always feel privileged to do what will be a very moving and inspiring experience.
“I want to raise money for COPS to support their work to help surviving families rebuild lives after the death of a police officer on duty.”
The unity tour is an annual event with hundreds of police officers across Britain competing and it has raised over £1million for COPS since 2013.
The charity is dedicated to helping the families of police officers and staff who have died while on duty.
Traditionally held over the last weekend in July, the cycle challenge was put back due to policing commitments as part of the Commonwealth Games.
