<p>Many thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>I am about to participate in the Etape Caledonia cycle event which will see me pedalling my way around 81 miles of Perthshire on Sunday 15th May 2011. In a car that's a long drive for me and on my bike it will probably mean more than 5 hours in the saddle.</p> <p>I am doing this to raise funds for the 'Thin Blue Line Appeal' in aid of the Police Treatment Centre at Castlebrae in Auchterarder.</p> <p>I have been a police officer for 24 years and back in 2007 I had a serious skiing accident whilst on holiday with my wife and kids. I lost a ski, got high-sided and landed on my left shoulder. The top of my left arm did not appreciate this and promptly broke into 3 bits. This may be the humerus bone but believe me it was not funny.</p> <p>Fortunately I met an outstanding orthopaedic surgeon called Dr Stephen Bannar and he managed to stick my arm back together with the help of titanium plates and screws and 5 hours in surgery. He is a genius. He is also based in South Lake Tahoe, California and this shows the benefit of having good travel insurance. You really do not know when you will need it.</p> <p>On returning to Scotland it goes without saying that my arm was not really capable of doing anything whilst it healed. Then came physiotherapy and thats when the pain and hard work really started.</p> <p>As a cop I have been paying money each pay throughout my service towards the Police Treatment Centres and never have I been more grateful as this allowed me access to excellent physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Over the course of a year I spent 8 weeks being treated there and without their help its safe to say my arm would not be working as well as it does and that I would probably be doing a different job now.</p> <p>Sadly we live in a time when police officers continue to be injured both on and off duty and this makes the services of the Police Treatment Centres more crucial in maintaining the Thin Blue Line.</p> <p>If you have ever benefitted from a visit to one of the centres or just feel that you would like to help get cops back to full fitness please sponsor me.</p> <p>I will do the hard bit (81 miles on a bike, with a big climb thrown in for good measure!) you do the easy bit and just donate.</p> <p>I am doing this event with a couple of colleagues, one of whom is also a Castlebrae veteran, and we will all be extremely grateful for any donations we receive. The money will go towards the Thin Blue Line Appeal and will be used to improve the facilities at the treatment centre.</p> <p>I've stuck some photos opposite so you can see more about my arm and yes the metalwork is all still in there and will be for the rest of my days and I do set the odd alarm off in airports and shops.&nbsp;</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>