Next August myself and Harvey will be taking part in a 180 mile bike ride to raise money for COPS (Care of Police Survivors).

This is very close to our hearts. As a few of you know, I lost my Dad, Steven Stimpson on the 26th of January 1998. He was 33. I was 18 months old, my sister just 4 months. We will be riding in his memory.

He was killed in a road accident, while on patrol in the early hours of the morning, when his traffic patrol car left the road, crashed through a fence and overturned, landing on its roof in a field near Tickton.

We have no other answers apart from the explanation above. So you can only begin to imagine the pain and confusion felt by my Mum answering that early morning knock on the door, opening it to 2 officers about to turn all of our lives upside down.

Although I don’t remember my Dad, I do remember the years of longing, upset and confusion, possibly even anger. Father’s day, sports days, parents evenings. All of the important first times my Mum faced alone. All the times spent wondering, why did this happen to us? To our Dad?

It happened because my Dad chose everyday to put his life on the line. Every time he pulled that uniform on. No second thought.

And I will always remember being so proud telling others he was in the police, that he died protecting us. And I still am proud to this day.

COPS wasn’t around when my Mum needed it the most. That strange time when everyone else returns to normal life and you’re left wondering how you’re meant to put all the pieces back together.

It’s so important that there is now the COPS team, ready to support other families, that unfortunately will one day need the help and support, as much as I wish they didn’t, to rebuild their shattered lives.

Any donation to help us support COPS will mean the world to us.

I’d also just like to use this page to remember not only my Dad but James Heaton, who died not long after Steve in a similar accident.

#werideforthosewhodied