Police volunteers take on challenge that will see them travelling 286 miles in just one day in aid of Flint House

A group of police volunteers and staff members are taking part in a challenging fitness fundraiser in aid of cancer rehabilitation equipment. The  team will be traversing the mammoth distance between London and Paris in just 24 hours – using gym equipment.

On Thursday 6 July, 12 police volunteers, and  staff and patients from rehabilitation centre Flint House, will be using gym equipment to run, row and ride 286 miles,  equivalent to the distance between the two capital cities.

The event is designed like a triathlon with three sections called; Run, Row and Ride. Volunteers will be running for 75 miles, the distance between London and Dover, rowing for 26 miles, which is the same as the channel crossing from Dover to Calais and will finally take on the gruelling third challenge of riding a whopping 185 miles – the same as a bike ride from Calais to Paris, all in one day.

Flint House, which provides physical rehabilitation and mental health support to  subscribing, serving and retired police officers, is welcoming an increasing number of patients for cancer-specific rehabilitation.

The centre is a charity, funded entirely by donations from those in police forces and their families, and currently helps to rehabilitate and heal 3,200 members of the current force, alongside retirees, every year.

The Flint House staff are dedicated to offering physical and mental support to those in need and are a mainstay of the support infrastructure offered by the centre to police officers who are affected by cancer.

The window for cancer rehabilitation never closes at Flint House, whether patients have been recently diagnosed, their treatment  is being managed with ongoing care, or their it has concluded years ago.

Physiotherapy has been shown to contribute to better physical outcomes by helping cancer patients become fitter and stronger both during and after treatment.

Metropolitan police officers have praised the fundraising efforts, with one officer admitting that the cause is “personal to him and his family”.

Met Police Sergeant and Flint House Ambassador Darren Laurie is the team leader for the Run, Row and Ride event. He said: “All police officers and patients are welcome to come and join in on 6 July.

“Cancer affects many people and it is certainly personal to me and my family. The  equipment which will be procured through this event will be a positive thing that will help many officers in the future.

“All the officers who have been to Flint House and I have spoken to have benefited so much from their time here. It is a charity that is dedicated for the support and welfare of officers.

“I first came to Flint House for physio after I had a motorbike crash, which was far worse than I first suspected. There was a chance I wouldn’t have been able to go back to work had I not had the treatment from Flint House – they really drove my recovery.

“This is all for a good cause and a really important bit of kit. If people want to sponsor us, they should see it as paying it forward. After all, they might need treatment at Flint House one day.”

Flint House urgently needs to raise £4,500 to purchase a vital piece of equipment called the Lymphscanner, which is used to measure the water content of soft tissues and improvements in a patient’s Lymphoedema during cancer treatment.

Flint House’s Lymphoedema Rehabilitation Therapist, Kate Young, said: “We tend to see people who have developed Lymphoedema as a result of undergoing cancer surgery or radiotherapy. These treatments can affect the lymph system, and for some people it results in swelling. 

“A Lymphscanner is quick and easy to use and gives an instant, reliable measure of the amount of swelling. We will be able to use it to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and help with treatment choices. It can also be reassuring for patients to see the changes happening.

“Developing lymphoedema can be worrying for people – we are here to reassure, treat and help manage it.”

You can also support this fantastic event and help Flint House purchase this important piece of equipment by clicking on this link: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/flinthouserunrowride