Help raise funds for COPS
18 May 2021
The Light the Lakes challenge returns next month to remember fallen officers and organisers hope it will help raise more than £40,000 for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.
Police officers will join emergency services colleagues and members of the public for Light the Lakes, which see teams climb the Lake District’s 214 peaks and light blue flames just before dawn in memory of fallen officers.
The annual event also raises money for COPS, which supports the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.
It started in 2012 but was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Now West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott is encouraging members to add their support to this year’s event, which takes place on 18 and 19 June.
Jon said: “It’s fantastic to see Light the Lakes return again this year. It’s so much more than a challenge for the teams to scale the fells and peaks of the Lake District.
“It allows a time of reflection to remember and pay respect to the friends and colleagues we’ve lost while raising much-needed funds for COPS, an outstanding charity which provides support to families of police officers and staff who have died on duty.
“It’s everything that’s great about the policing family,” Jon added.
Organiser Vinny Wagijani, a DS with Surrey Police and a Surrey Police Federation rep, hopes to raise £40,000 for COPS, and to raise awareness about the support the charity officers grieving police families.
“COPS is such an important charity,” said Vinny. “I would certainly want them providing that wrap-around service to my family and loved ones should the worse happen to me.
“If we can raise the £40,000 this year, it will take us close to raising £100,000 in total from each of the events for the charity.
“They have missed out on a lot of fund-raising events this past year, and I know they are grateful to everyone taking part.”
