Two BTP officers have pedalled their way to fundraising success, donating more than a thousand pounds to the charity, Care of Police Survivors.
PC Sarah Booker and Superintendent Sue Peters took part in the Police Unity Tour long-distance cycle challenge. Their fundraising efforts, plus a donation of £300 from the Federation lottery, saw them give £1100 to the charity which looks after families of officers and staff killed on duty or as a result of their police duties.
Each year, the Police Unity Tour concludes at the National Memorial Arboretum, a national site of remembrance in Staffordshire, to coincide with The Care of Police Survivors Annual Service of Remembrance.
The Arboretum in Lichfield is home to the UK Police Memorial, which honours those who lost their lives serving and protecting communities across the UK. The grove is lined with chestnut trees, paying homage to the original wooden police truncheon made of this variety of wood. Each tree represents an individual police force.
Every participant rides in memory of a fallen colleague killed by wearing an engraved bracelet bearing the officer’s details. PC Sarah Brooker rode in memory of Mark Birch, Property Manager at Birmingham. She was able to pass the band bearing Mark’s name to his widow, Debbie.
Sarah and Sue met up with PC Andy Redmond and Sergeant Rebecca Brown, who also took part in the tour, by the BTP tree (pictured below). Thank you to everyone who supported these officers. If you would like to find out more about the work of COPS or are interested in signing up for next year’s Police Unity Tour, you can find more information here.
