The wait is almost over for a team of West Midlands Police officers who are running the New York Half Marathon to support a children’s cancer charity.

A 17-strong team from the Force is heading out to the Big Apple ready to tackle the 13-mile course this Saturday.

The officers are all funding the trip themselves and aim to raise awareness of neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects children, mostly under the age of five.

They are also raising money for Joining Against Cancer in Kids, or J-A-C-K.org, a charity founded in 2008 by Metropolitan Police officers, which provides research into neuroblastoma and offers advice and support to families with children with a diagnosis.

They will join colleagues from around the UK including the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Police Scotland, with a total of 85 officers taking part in the race on Saturday (18 May).

The day after the half marathon, the officers will run a further 5k in memory of fallen New York Police Department (NYPD) officers.

West Midlands Police Federation member Jamie Murphy has been pivotal in getting the team together.

He said: “We’re ready to go. It’s going to be an amazing experience, and I’m looking forward to the experience.

“I like doing things for charity and this is a really good cause. Cancer is awful, particularly when it affects children, so it’s good to be able to give something back.”

He added: “The following day we’re doing a 5k with the NYPD to remember their fallen officers, and their families will be there as well.

“It will be an experience and a good chance to make new connections and build new links.”

J-A-C-K.org was inspired by Jack Brown, who was seven when he died from neuroblastoma after a three-year illness. His mum Yvonne and dad Richard were detectives in the Met.

For the past 18 years, police officers from the UK have been running the New York Half Marathon in Central Park to help raise money for the charity.

The runners are known as Jack’s Pack, and hope to raise more than £30,000 for the charity.

West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke is also taking part.

“I’ve never been to America so I don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “But I’m really looking forward to it and supporting a really good cause.

“It will be good to be with a team of our officers, and many of them are probably younger in service than me, so it also will be a chance to talk to them.”

You can sponsor the team and leave messages of support through their JustGiving page.