Chief ‘proud of Essex’s charity fundraisers’

CHIEF Constable Stephen Kavanagh has met with runners, cyclists, walkers and skydivers from Essex Police to thank them for raising money for charity.

Mr Kavanagh has praised officers and staff for all the time and effort they put in to raise cash for good causes.

“I’m so proud that Essex Police officers and staff give up thousands of hours of their own time every year to raise money for good causes in the county and worldwide,” he said.

“We have officers training for marathons by running to and from busy days at work keeping our streets safe, staff putting their dignity on the line to help people live better lives, and a huge variety of charities that will benefit from our support this year.”

Mr Kavanagh will also be joining in the fundraising efforts, by running the New York Half Marathon on 21 May for Jack’s Pack (Joining Against Cancer in Kids/Police Against Cancer in Kids), a charity supporting young people suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

The charity was set up by a couple who used to work with Mr Kavanagh at the Metropolitan Police Service. Their seven-year-old son, Jack Brown, died following a brave battle with a childhood cancer called neuroblastoma.

“While my knees aren’t looking forward to it, I can’t wait to run in the New York half marathon this year,” said Mr Kavanagh.

A total of 90 members of Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police will complete the New York half marathon in uniform from the waist up. Two days later they will then take part in a Plane Pull at John F Kennedy Airport, competing to pull a JetBlue Airways Airbus A320 with members of US law enforcement, military and airport agencies.

All the officers pay for the trip themselves and all money raised will go to the charity.