A TOP police officer who started her career patrolling the streets of Redditch is to take part in the UK Police Unity Tour in memory of officers who died while in service.
Acting Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman will be joined by Sargeant Laura Wright will join more than 30 police officers and staff who form the East Midlands Chapter of the Tour.
They will cycle 180 miles in remembrance of colleagues across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire who tragically lost their lives while serving their communities.
Having already raised £10,000 the team is hoping to raise more than £12,000 for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.
COPS is a charity that supports the families of officers who have died in the line of duty. They ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such tragedies and they remain as part of the police family.
The team started their ride at Leicestershire Police’s force headquarters in Enderby on Friday, July 29, and will cycle to a memorial service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on Sunday, July 31.
Each rider will be wearing a blue metal wrist band with the name of a fallen colleague they will be cycling in honour of. At the memorial service riders will meet with the deceased officers’ families and give them the wrist bands.
ACC Blakeman said: “Laura and I are riding for COPS because it is important to remember those who have lost their lives serving their communities. We will be riding for our friend and colleague PC442 Tony Wright who tragically lost his life while on duty in August 2011.
“Tony was a keen cyclist having completed the London To Paris cycle ride for charity ”
You can follow @PoliceTour on Twitter for updates during the cycle ride.
If you would like to donate you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-Wright-Amanda-Blakeman
