Page 25 - WMPF Federation JUNE-JULY 2019-flip_Neat

Marathon man

the West Midlands Chapter riding the tour
along with Superintendent Scott Jones from
the regional organised crime unit, Force
academic researcher Gill Wall and police
staff member Lisa Cummings. The chapter
also includes riders from West Mercia,
Staffordshire and Warwickshire, ensuring all
four forces in the West Midlands region are
represented.

About COPS

Care of Police Survivors (otherwise known as
COPS) is a UK registered charity dedicated to
helping the families of police officers who
have lost their lives on duty. It aims to
ensure survivors have all the help they need
to cope with such a tragedy, and that they
remain part of the police family as they
rebuild their lives.
Only another survivor can fully
understand what new survivors endure and
that shared experience is the basis for the
charity’s peer support programme.
COPS enables survivors to help survivors,
the extent of help provided will always be
controlled by the new survivor. Sometimes
an understanding listener is needed.
Sometimes more practical help is required.
Whatever the need, COPS will be able to put
survivors in touch with those who truly
understand. Mark Foster with his six-marathon medals.
COPS is independent of the police service
and was founded in March 2003 by Jim beat bobby has completed six of collecting cash for such a very worthy
McNulty and Christine Fulton (MBE). Jim was the world’s most renowned cause and running in memory of a family
a retired police officer from Strathclyde A marathons to raise funds for a member has helped inspire me to keep
Police. Christine is the widow of PC Lewis charity that offers mental health support going when tiredness has crept in.
Fulton who was murdered on duty in to young people. “I am grateful for all the support and
Glasgow in 1994. Mark Foster finished the 123rd Boston donations I have received from friends,
COPS makes contact with the survivors Marathon in April this year as the last leg family, colleagues and members of the
of every officer who loses their life on duty, of his marathon mission for Young Minds. community.
explaining what COPS does and inviting The Wednesfield neighbourhood “There are health and professional
them to make contact when they are ready officer had also competed in the London, benefits to maintaining a good level of
for such support. Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago and New York fitness; it was never about the running
Survivors’ weekend marathons over the last six years making times, just crossing the lines. However,
it’s certainly important to work on fitness
him only the 350th person in the UK to be
Each year, usually in July, COPS holds a awarded the Abbott World Marathon due to the nature of our job!”
survivor weekend incorporating social Majors Medal recognising the six- And did he have a ‘favourite’
activities and concluding with a service of marathon achievement. marathon?
remembrance. He was inspired to raise money for the “I can’t say I had a favourite marathon
It allows families to meet with other charity by running long distances in as they were all impressive and enjoyable
survivors, share experiences and learn how memory of his younger sister. He has in their own way but I would say the
others have rebuilt their lives. Activities are raised £8,500 to date and hopes to reach London Marathon had the most
arranged for the children and, where his £10,000 target next year. impressive support as it was directly after
appropriate, childcare is provided. Young Minds will use the money he the Boston Marathon Bombing so a lot of
The COPS service of remembrance is held has raised for education and a young society came out to support and to show
on the Sunday morning of the survivor people’s/parents’ helpline focusing on they weren’t afraid and so the finish line
weekend at the National Memorial mental health issues. noise levels were immense,” Mark says.
Arboretum. It is attended by representatives Mark said: “I have always enjoyed Having completed such a feat, Mark is
of the UK police service, staff associations keeping active and the marathons, along now resting his knees running-wise but he
and the wider police family. All are welcome. with training for them, has certainly kept still has his eyes set on another challenge
This year’s survivor weekend runs from me on my toes. The priority has been – maybe an Everest Base Camp hike.
26 to 28 July.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation June/July 2019 25