Officers urged to support Light the Lakes event

18 May 2021

Humberside Police Federation secretary Rob Grunner is encouraging members to support this year’s Light the Lakes event and raise money for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.

Police officers join colleagues and members of the public for the Light the Lakes challenge, which will see teams climb the 214 peaks across the Lake District and light blue flames just before dawn in memory of fallen officers.

The annual event started in 2012 and raises money for COPS, which supports the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty. 

This year’s event takes place on 18 and 19 June after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Rob said: “It’s great to see Light the Lakes return again this year. It symbolises everything that’s good about the police family. It allows us to remember and pay our respects to our fallen colleagues and to support their families by raising money for COPS.

“The support the charity provides is fantastic, and after so many fund-raising events were cancelled due to the pandemic last year, it’s great to see Light the Lakes returning this year.”

Organiser Vinny Wagijani, a DS with Surrey Police and a Surrey Police Federation rep, hopes to raise £40,000 for COPS, and to raise awareness about the support the charity officers grieving police families.

“COPS is such an important charity,” said Vinny. “I would certainly want them providing that wrap-around service to my family and loved ones should the worse happen to me.

“If we can raise the £40,000 this year, it will take us close to raising £100,000 in total from each of the events for the charity.

“They have missed out on a lot of fund-raising events this past year, and I know they are grateful to everyone taking part.”

Support the event.