Essex officers run to remember PC Nicola Hughes

COULD you run two miles a day, every day, for 125 days? Fifty officers and members of staff from Essex Police have started doing exactly that this month to raise money for charity.

From 1 December, around 1,600 members of the police family from across the UK, have taken to parks, streets and treadmills in a bid to run 250 miles each by April 4.

The event, “Run to Remember”, is in aid of the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund. PC Hughes was murdered while she was on duty in Manchester last September. Since her death her family have set up the fund to raise money for different charities. The money will go to supporting young people who have lost an immediate family member to violent crime.

The Essex Police team features officers of mixed running ability and is being supported by Billericay’s LA Fitness gym.

Taking part are: Michelle Miller, Jenna Daltry, Teri Harvey, Nicola Southgate, Julia Finch, Tracey Megaw, Tess Wisby, Laura Stellon, Jessica McLeod, Becky Mansey, Alison Riley, Amy Melton, Steve Tilley, Andrew Waldie, Jon Hounslow, Leo Fordham, Aaron Heard and Guy Turnbull.

DC Tracey Megaw, who has been co-ordinating the Essex involvement in the event, said: “I saw an article by the Hughes family on the Essex Police Federation website so I put up an article on our internal website to see if people would like to take part and have been overwhelmed by the response.”

She added: “We have even had people who used to work for Essex Police and that have moved abroad wanting to link with us to take part.”

The team looks likely to smash its goal of raising £3,400, with thousands already pledged. To contribute, visit:http://www.justgiving.com/teams/EssexPoliceTeam

PC Hughes’ father, Bryn Hughes, is running across the Arctic to raise cash for the fund. In April, he will be taking part in the North Pole Marathon, the only certified marathon run entirely on frozen water. It will see him braving temperatures of minus 30 degrees and will require months of preparation.