The Police Unity Tour is an annual memorial cycle with riders from across the country riding to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire each summer in memory of police officers and staff who have died on duty.

After the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, we launched the Virtual Police Unity Tour which saw cyclists taking part in the tour from home. We are delighted to say the event has now returned for 2025.

Cyclists will be challenged to take on 100 miles in January - walkers, runners and swimmers are all welcome to take on the distance too!

This event will raise money for Care of Police Survivors, who support the families of police officers and staff who have died on duty.

I rode 10,700 miles in 2024. I wanted to kickstart 2025 with a decent mileage in January. I had several days off the bike with a week away and several grandparenting duties but I set myself a personal target of 1000 miles. I’m pleased to report I finished the month on 1,100 miles.

The UKPUT cause is very personal to me. I have ridden increasingly every year since 2020 when I got back into cycling due to lockdowns and gradually progressing to full retirement last year. I ride to remember my best mate, crewmate and neighbour Stuart Ross who was killed in a police helicopter crash on 10/10/1998.

The target fund-raising amount is just £50. I will probably bung that in myself if I don't attract that figure in sponsorship but please give whatever you can if you are able to. Apparently I spent 57 hrs and 27 minutes in the garage and believe me conditions were Arctic some days. That took some dedication so I hope my effort was worth some reward for the charity.

Prior warning, I am planning to ride the regular UKPUT in the summer plus a charity Coast to Coast ride with BlueLight Cycle Club in June. All three rides raise much needed funds for the UK Cops charity, caring for the bereaved survivors of officers and staff who died in police service. I appreciate the rise in the cost of living and I only have a limited pool of friends and family I can appeal to for sponsorship. If you can’t afford to give now there will be two more opportunities this year.