Police World 1 2017

Article

5th Police Unity Tour Cycling for the Survivors Rob Atkin MBE – London The Police Unity Tour is an annual pedal cycle ride leaving the National Police Memorial on the Mall, cycling approximately 180 miles to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire over three days. 2017 will be the fifth annual ride from London, with numerous other rides starting throughout the UK. T he ride is a ‘tour and not a race’ and is suitable for those that are a reasonable standard of cyclist. Police officers of all

Gary Byfield, co founder and Vice President of the UK Police Unity Tour added. “I am immensely proud to be involved with this charity cycle ride in aid of COPS, to support police officers and family members killed in the line of duty. I have participated for the past 8 years in the USA Police Unity Tour and 5 years in the UK ride raising funds and awareness of police officers paying the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to protect members of the public. We want the family members to be recognised and remembered for their love ones and their loss.”

families and loved ones of officers killed in the line of duty. The memorial service at the National Arboretum is a truly moving event with all of the 43 UK Police Forces represented and offers a chance for our riders to show their respects and meet with the families to show that their loved one will never be forgotten. I have been an IPA member for over 20 years. Next year will be my 5th Police Unity Tour, it is a great event. It’s great to ride with people from all parts of policing; serving and retired. More importantly riding in memory of a fallen colleague is a moving experience, particularly when I have met the family members at the end and presented them with the memorial bracelet in their loved one name. I have seen first hand the great work Care of Police Survivors does in supporting those left behind through so it is great to be able to raise money for a fantastic cause.

ranks, police staff and family members of fallen officers all take part in this fully supported event. Each rider rides in memory of a police officer killed in the line of duty. The national roll of honour www.policememorial.org.uk is a reminder of our colleagues that have paid the ultimate sacrifice across the United Kingdom. Riders all ride for an individual officer depicted on an engraved bracelet, which at the conclusion of the ride they will have the opportunity to present to the family of that officer. This is a truly humbling experience and one that our colleagues’ families truly appreciate. Each rider undertakes to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship for the charity UK Care of Police Survivors a charity that directly supports the

Full details of the charity UK COPS can be found at www.ukcops.org

POLICE WORLD Vol 62 No. 1, 2017

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