The Police Unity Tour is a long-distance cycle ride undertaken by hundreds of police officers and staff across the UK in aid of Care of Police Survivors (COPS).

The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

This August, I will be riding the UK Police Unity Tour in memory of PC George Taylor. His families words typify the impact of losing George and on the importance of COPS:

"Fifty years ago, on 30th November 1976, the Taylor family from Carstairs and Wishaw suffered a terrible tragedy when 27-year-old Constable George William Chree Taylor was killed in the Carstairs State Hospital breakout. 

While he is rightly remembered as a victim of that horrific night, George was so much more. Very much a family man – a loving husband and father, a devoted and precious son, a much-loved brother and uncle – as well as friend to so many, George should also be remembered for all the joy that he gave others throughout his twenty-seven years. 

Many are the words and phrases that could be used to describe him – loving, fun to be with, highly respected, conscientious, principled, helpful, good-natured and caring among them. 

There are so many things that, even after so many years, George’s family love and miss about him. Vivid in their memory are the amazing hugs he gave, his broad and cheery smile, family outings and holidays, varied conversations they had at family gatherings, his love of animals, his attention to detail, his love of his job as a rural police officer, his sense of service and duty"

I will be cycling 220 miles to the National Memorial Arboretum to honour him and every officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.

The Police Unity Tour exists to ensure we never forget. Every mile I ride carries the names of the fallen, and every pound raised goes directly to COPS — a charity that supports the families left behind when an officer doesn't come home.

These families grieve in a very particular way. They lose someone who chose, every single day, to stand between the public and danger. COPS makes sure they are not left to face that loss alone.

Please donate if you can, you'll be helping to honour the brave men and women of our police service and the families who carry their memory forward.

For PC George Taylor. For all of them.