Page 29 - WMPF Federation Dec-Jan 2021_Neat

Team effort

The fundraising running team.
Runners support colleague

with breast cancer

West Midlands police sergeant who with the idea of doing a 5k baton and by the The team ran in relay, joining together to
organised a run which has raised end of week the entire team had said yes. run the last leg alongside each other, and
A almost £2,000 for Cancer Research UK “I then set about sorting out the logistics completed the route in 2hrs 46 min and 15s,
in honour of a colleague who is battling the and I was blown away by people’s some 40 minutes ahead of their expected
disease said he was “blown away” by the involvement and the charitable things that finishing time.
support and generosity of fellow officers and people were doing - TCH Hire from Matt said the amount raised was
friends. Wolverhampton loaned us a minibus for free, approaching the £2,000 mark and added:
Matt Cooper’s friend and colleague PC DIS Group produced T-shirts for us at cost “When I set it up I only wanted to raise £150
Donna Kelly was diagnosed with breast price and I was completely bowled over when - I thought that would be a good sum - but
cancer in July 2020 and has undergone one of our superintendents, Simon Inglis, said people’s generosity has absolutely bowled me
surgery, eight rounds of chemotherapy and he would pay for them.” over.
radiotherapy. The runners were Matt, Sergeant Garry “Donna has been our focus in this and it
After hearing an advert for the Race for Barton, Inspector Stephanie Furber, DC Julie was great to see her meet us at the end. She
Life, Matt and 15 fellow officers vowed to do Edwards, PC Carla Till, PC Matt Price, PC Sean is a much-loved member of the team and has
their bit to show their support for Donna. Allington, PC Matt Tromans, PC Chris Lacey, PC remained so positive while fighting the
Matt said: “I was at home one day waiting David Woods, PC David Berrisford and PC disease.
to go on nights and I heard an advert on the Natalie Lewis who all serve on the “She’s been so brave and we wanted to
radio for the Race for Life and that’s where it Wolverhampton Neighbourhood Task Force show how much she means to us while
all started from really. plus Wolverhampton Inspector Sophie raising money for such an important cause.
“I spoke to another sergeant in the office Clement, Wolverhampton CID officers DC “It was all the motivation we needed to
and we agreed we should do something and Vicky Robey and PC Pete Aston, and firearms get us through the challenge and it was lovely
one of the ideas was to run from the police officer PC Mark Porter. to see Donna, who has been responding well
station at Wolverhampton to Donna’s house PC Karl Ansell was in charge of logistics to treatment, there to meet us at the end.
in Telford. and transport and PC Chris Wilson sadly had “It was a great event. Donna was really
“It’s 26.6 kilometres and I certainly to pull out at the last minute due to a family pleased and she has supported us all the way.”
couldn’t run that in one go so we came up commitment. People can still donate online.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2021/January 2022 29