Fed chair urges officers to take part in Police Unity Tour
16 April 2024
Taking part in the Police Unity Tour can be challenging, but is immensely rewarding according to West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke.
Rich, who has previously completed the 180-mile sponsored cycle ride to help raise money for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity, wants as many officers as possible to take part.
“It is incredibly important that we remember our fallen colleagues and show our support for their families,” said Rich. “Taking part in the Police Unity Tour is one way to do that.
"It can be challenging, you are covering a long distance over the two days of the tour, and some parts of the route can be quite hilly but when you see the families of our fallen colleagues at the end of the event, it brings it home to you how important this is to them.”
Registration is now open for the Police Unity Tour.
The Police Unity Tour cyclists will set off from their home forces on Friday 26 July and will make their way to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire for the annual COPS service of remembrance on Sunday 28 July.
They all wear a wristband engraved with the name of a fallen officer and at the end of the ride, where possible, present this to the family of that officer.
West Midlands Police officers ride as part of the West Midlands Chapter of the region which also includes cyclists from West Mercia Police.
The Police Unity Tour is now in its 12th year and has raised more than £1.2 million to fund the invaluable peer support offered to families through COPS.
To take part this year, entrants have to register online. Registration costs £150 which is non-refundable registration fee but offsets the costs of two nights’ accommodation and a Police Unity Tour cycling jersey.
COPS was founded in 2003 by Jim McNulty and Christine Fulton (MBE). Jim was a retired police officer from Strathclyde Police while Christine’s husband PC Lewis Fulton was murdered on duty in Glasgow in 1994.
The charity contacts the survivors of every officer who loses their life on duty, explaining what support the charity can offer and inviting them to get in touch if they need such support.
READ MORE: Federation remembers former workplace rep.
