Event hopes to raise £40,000 for COPS charity
18 May 2021
Organisers of this year’s Light the Lakes challenge hope to raise more than £40,000 for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.
Light the Lakes returns next month after last year’s event was postponed due to the pandemic and South Wales Police Federation chair Steve Treharne is encouraging members to add their support.
Police officers from across the country will join colleagues and members of the public for the challenge on 18 and 19 June.
Teams climb one of the 214 peaks across the Lake District to light blue flares just before dawn in memory of fallen police officers.
Steve said: “Light of the Lakes brings out the very best in the policing family. It’s a chance for us to remember our fallen colleagues but also to support their families and help them rebuild their lives by raising money for COPS.
“It’s been a tough year for the charity, just like so many others. It’s had many of its fund-raising activities cancelled because of the pandemic, so to have Light the Lakes going ahead this year is a great to see.”
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 fundraising events this past year, and I know they are grateful to everyone taking part.”