Fundraising for Care of Police Survivors (COPS).

This year is a very big year for Team Up. We have secured Scafell itself, which I hopefully won't have to tell anyone is the HIGHEST peak in England. So to say this is going to be a tough year, is no exaggeration.

As always I will be hiking in memory of Dale Johnson, who was my tutor when I joined, who is sadly no longer with us. When Naomi my old CI approached me to join her (shove her A** up the hill as a support buddy) many years ago, I couldn't say no to the adventure and honor this event puts on us all.

Sadly over the years more and more names have been added to our Honors List. And I will forever carry them with me to the top every year that I am physically able. To support their memory and make sure their families, too, know they are still remembered and loved, is the greatest privilege I could have in being part of this Thin Blue Family.

We have the ever smiling Ashleigh Metcalf, who you could hear laughing long before you could see her. Graham Saville who was the first to check in, when someone didn't seem themselves, always concerned for those around him. Daz Howard who always seemed to know the perfect timing for any punchline or joke, when his team needed the boost. Andy 'Cockers' Cocharn who had the dry wit and sense of humour that any rock star would aspire to hold. Sgt Matt Ratana....who with his sheer presence and wit would garner him the respect of any seasoned Rugby Referree would dream of.

These are not just names printed on shirt, and this isn't simply a drive to collect for a charity...although...dig deep folks, it's a good cause...this is a way too show that these fallen family members meant the world to us, and we won't allow them to remain fallen. We will hold the line, and look after those who need it now and in the future through the support of CoPs.

Light the Lakes has become an established event in the climber's diary where Police Officers, colleagues and friends climb the 214 Wainwright peaks in the Lake District to raise money to support COPS (Care of Police Survivors).

COPS provides peer support, counselling, mental well-being and respite services to help surviving family members of police officers and staff who have died on duty rebuild their lives. They work with hundreds of families from across the UK – all of their services are provided free of charge and for as along as they are needed.

The vision has always been to cover all 214 Wainwright fells with the light of flares in honour of our fallen officers. Knowing that each flare is in honour of those who have lost their life is an incredibly special and moving experience.

This year is the sixth for Team Up and we will be hiking up Scafell Pike and wild camping along the way.

Among those we will be remembering are:

PC Dale Johnson

PC Andy Cochran

PS Matt Ratana

PS Graham Saville

PC Ashleigh Metcalf

PC Ty Jones

PS Matt Hinton

DC Ansah Ossei-Owusu

PC Damien ‘Minty’ Harris

PC Chris Donovan

PS Paul Purdy

PC Samantha Jones

PC Kate Murphy

PC Daz Howard