Police Unity Tour raises £100,000 for Care of Police Survivors Charity

3 August 2021

The Police Unity Tour raised more than £100,000 for the Care of Police Survivors Charity – and it featured a hefty contingent of riders from Humberside Police!

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of police officers and staff who have died on duty – and to raise money for COPS, which supports the surviving family members left behind.

The tour has the motto “We Ride for Those Who Died”.

Riding for his 8th year on the tour in 2021, was PC Darren Kirkwood, of Humberside Police. Darren said: “I’m part of the NorthEast chapter [of the Police Unity Tour] that’s cycled 180 miles from York all the way to the National Memorial Arboretum, raising cash for the Care of Police Survivors

“It’s such a worthy charity. It’s one of those charities that a lot of people aren’t aware of, even police officers. I think it’s one of them charities that hopefully none of our families ever need to use. But just seeing what COPS do is fantastic and it’s just our little thing, a bit of time, a bit of effort, just to raise so much money for such a fantastic cause.”

Around 400 officers took part in the Unity Tour this year. Riders start at different points from across Britain, with them all arriving on the Sunday of the COPS weekend at the National Memorial Arboretum, just prior to the COPS Service of Remembrance.

Darren added: “Obviously we want to go to work and we want to come home, and some of our colleagues have unfortunately paid that ultimate sacrifice and never come home. Just to see how appreciative that the families are, the survivors, when we ride in, it’s just overwhelming really.”

Darren said he is always touched by the Service of Remembrance which takes place on the Sunday of the COPS weekend. He concluded: “It’s so emotional. Just seeing people. There’s tears. Definitely. Every year. There’s been tears throughout the weekend but this is the one, this is what we’re all here for really. Just to see the people, the family, and especially the kids. It’s overwhelming.”