A team of officers and support staff from Leicestershire Police are preparing to cycle 180 miles to raise money for the families of officers who died in the line of duty.

The group will be taking part in this year’s Police Unity Tour (PUT) which raises money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity dedicated to helping the families of those who have lost a loved one on duty.

They will start their route at Force Headquarters on Friday 27 July and will finish on Sunday 29 July at the service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Officers from across the country take part in the event and meet up in Staffordshire on the Sunday morning to ride the last few miles and arrive at the arboretum together. All riders wear a metal wristband which is engraved with the name of a fallen officer. Once at the service, they hand over the bands to their officer’s family members and wreaths are laid in remembrance

The East Midlands PUT chapter comprises of serving Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire police officers, staff and surviving family members including:

Deputy Chief Constable Rob Nixon and his wife, Leanne, PC Jon Carter-Lang (Leicestershire Police Federation workplace representative and equality lead), Vicky and Chris Moore - daughter and son of the late Brian Moore, Rebecca and Matt Walker - daughter and son of the late Jed Walker, Inspector Cara Guest-Moore, Chief Superintendent Kerry Smith, PC Liam Hennessy, PC Sarah Stables, PC Mark Morris and Acting Sergeant Ryan Coleman.

Support staff taking part include Charlotte Carter-Lang, who is president of the East Midlands PUT Chapter, and retired police officer Jim Holyoak.

Vicky Moore said: “My family and I have been a part of the COPS family since it was first established back in 2003. We lost my father, PC Bryan Moore, in 2002. Having benefited first-hand from the service COPS provides for families, I realised I wanted to give back to the charity to help maintain what they do and support others. 

“After meeting Chief Constable Simon Cole in 2014, I first did the ride in 2015. I then went travelling for two years and, as soon as I came home, I signed up to do the Unity Tour again.

“Riding as part of the Unity Tour allows me to do something to honour my father’s memory, while supporting other families and giving back to a charity that has been a life-line for me over the last 16 years. 

“It is also a personal challenge - the ride is tough both physically and mentally but the support from other riders and the reason we are all in this together carries us through those long days and arriving at the arboretum and seeing the families of those we ride for is overwhelming. That’s the feeling of knowing you’re doing something great.”

The tour is seen very much as a challenge rather than a race with cyclists of all abilities welcomed and encouraged to take part.

Charlotte Carter-Lang said: “All riders are really supportive of each other, it’s much like being part of a big family. Participants tend to enjoy the cycling element and are generally keen riders so thrive on the challenge while also supporting COPS. However, this year some of those taking part have never ridden before so this will be a huge mental and physical challenge for them.

“The tour motto is ‘we ride for those who died’ and remembering those police staff is at the heart of the tour.”