A team of Cambridgeshrie police officers will set off on a 100-mile bike ride in aid of a charity dedicated to helping families of officers who have lost their lives while on duty or in service.

Each one of the 15 riders will wear wristbands bearing the names of fallen officers as they set off on the ride - in aid of the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity – on Friday (July 27).

Officers will ride 45 miles on Friday and Saturday before they ride the final 10 on Sunday with more than 300 other officers and survivors at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire as part of the 2018 UK Police Unity Tour.

During a service each team will place a wreath beneath its individually assigned tree and each survivor will be given a rose to lay for the person they lost.

Inspector Caroline Scully, who attended last year’s ceremony with her cadets and will be taking part in the ride this year, said: “I found it incredible to listen to people’s stories and see what COPS do to help them. It was an amazing day, so I was absolutely implored to get involved the next time round.

“The team isn’t competitive; we put one of the strongest at the front and one of the strongest at the back. If we need to stop and break that’s always fine, it’s not a race.

“We’re working together, not against each other. The aim is to be a team and remember what we’re doing this for.”

So far, the team has raised just over £6,600 through various fundraising events, including the bike ride.

The following Cambridgeshire officers and staff are taking part in this year’s ride:

• Police constable Chris Herring of March and Wisbech, riding in memory of police constable Alan Lee

• Constable Justin Bielawski of March and Wisbech, riding in memory of police constable Richard Peak

• Response investigator Brady Slack of Thorpe Wood, riding in memory of detective sergeant Francis Willis

• RPU sergeant Rebecca Jones of Stevenage, riding in memory of sergeant Jeremy Thorogood and major crime officer Rebecca Griffiths

• Inspector Rachael Gourlay of Huntingdon, riding in memory of detective constable Sharon Garrett and major crime officer Rebecca Griffiths

• Cambridge Federation chairman Liz Groom of Yaxley, riding in memory of police constable Andreas Newbery and major crime officer Rebecca Griffiths

• Internal verifier Claire Beck of Monks Wood, riding in memory of detective constable inspector Kenneth Hunt and major crime officer Rebecca Griffiths

• Detective constable Mike Gray of Parkside, riding in memory of chief constable William Edwards

• Detective constable Hannah Brooks of Parkside, riding in memory of detective constable Karen Paterson

• Inspector Caroline Scully of Wisbech, riding in memory of detective constable Ben Devonshire and major crime officer Rebecca Griffiths

• Traffic officer Benjamin Patten of Huntingdon HQ, riding in memory of special commandant Reginald Nicholson and major crime officer Rebecca Griffiths

• Police constable Iain Perry of Histon, acting as support in memory of police constable Michael Perry

• Special inspector Paul Jenkins of Parkside, riding in memory of police constable Anthony Allder

• Deputy chief constable Alan Baldwin of Huntingdon HQ, riding in memory of police constable Joe Mabuto, Thames Valley Police

• Design out crime officer Dave Griffin of Huntingdon HQ

There is a total of 15 in the team, with Dave Griffin and Paul Jenkins as support drivers.

To donate to COPS visit the Unity Tour Team’s Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cambs-policeunitytour2018