Martin Kent
UK POLICE UNITY TOUR 2022
Fundraising for Care of Police Survivors
Story
I am taking part in the UK Police Unity Tour 2022 between the 19th August and 21st August , cycling from Humberside Police HQ in Hull to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. approximately 200 miles.
This will be my 4th Unity Tour and each year it reminds me of how fragile life can be and how brave, resilient and generous people are.
I will be part of the North East Chapter from Humberside, North/ South/ West Yorkshire, Durham, Cleveland and Northumbria Police Services who will meet up with 11 other Chapters in Tamworth to support this extremely worthwhile charity and support our unfortunate passed colleagues and their families.
I will be raising money for COPS (Care Of Police Survivors) who help the families of Police Officers killed in the line of duty rebuild their lives.
Nobody expects or should leave home for work and not return!
Whilst realising the dangers of policing, nobody expects to die in the line of duty. When such a tragedy does occur, the surviving family endures emotions including denial, bewilderment, anger and depression.
The police service does not have the resources to maintain support for these families beyond the immediate aftermath of the death. That is
where 'Care of Police Survivors' comes in.
Care of Police Survivors (otherwise known as COPS) is a UK registered charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, rebuild their lives. It aims to ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such a tragedy and that they remain part of the police family.
COPS enables survivors to help survivors. Only another survivor can fully understand what new survivors endure, and that shared experience is the basis for the peer support programme.
COPS aims to build a network of survivors around the UK, developing the capability of having a local survivor as soon as required. The extent of help provided will be controlled by the new survivor. Sometimes an understanding listener is needed. Sometimes more practical help is required. Whatever the need, COPS will be able to put survivors in touch with those who truly understand.
COPS and I would be very grateful if you could sponsor me to help the families of those who have lost their lives doing the job that they loved.
The Police Unity Tour is a long-distance cycle ride undertaken by hundreds of police officers across the UK. The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Police Officers who have died in the line of duty. The secondary purpose of the UK tour is to raise funds for Care of Police Survivors, a UK charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers and police staff who have lost their lives on duty. The cyclists will finish their journey at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where a Service of Remembrance is being held by COPS for their fallen friends and colleagues.
Thank you in anticipation
Martin
