Detective Constable Joanne Hill, of Norfolk Constabulary, sadly lost her husband Nicholas in 2002 when their son was just nine weeks old. Joanne received support from Care of Police Survivors.

She now takes part in the Unity Tour in his memory.

Remembering fallen colleagues. Supporting the surviving family members left behind.

The ride concluded at the COPS Service of Remembrance.

“It was another really, really good, successful Unity Tour… Friday though was incredibly wet,” she recalls.

“The big thing for me about the entire weekend is the sense of team that comes from it and the sense of belonging and everybody's united together for the same reason. And everybody just understands it and gets it.

“It’s really, really positive and it gives you such a good feeling to have that camaraderie, and that's what gets you through. But then riding into Drayton Manor on Saturday afternoon, being sort of welcomed in by all the survivors, is always really emotional.

“And then again, riding into the Arboretum on Sunday is just… seeing like all those people and the enormity of it, and then riding as part of the big peloton and just realising why… It’s really sad why you're doing it and sad that COPS is growing.”

More than 500 cyclists, each wearing a Unity Band engraved with the name of a Fallen Officer, completed their cross-country journey as part of the Unity Tour.

These bands were presented to the officers’ families, symbolising remembrance and solidarity.

The tour’s motto is “We Ride For Those Who Died”.

Now in its 13th year, the PUT continues to raise essential funds for COPS, with the 2025 tour alone raising £235,000.

Joanne added: “To be able to give something to others that have been in that situation and are in that situation means a lot as well.

“How do I train? I train indoors, which is not always the best way. Finding the time to go out on my bike actually, you know, take two, three, four hours out of my day to go for a ride on the road is quite difficult because I've got young children.

“So for me, at least if I can train at home on there with them still. So yeah, for me, I started sort of earlier in the year doing some hill climb rides nd mountain series rides on my peloton. And that's generally what I do most years.”

And what about the Unity Tour 2026…?

Joanne adds: “It would be really nice to see more people from Norfolk joining us next year, because it was going to be my last year but by Friday morning they persuaded me to do it, because I've done it every single year.

“I’ve already started booking the hotels!”