18 May 2021
Light the Lakes returns this year to support the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity and remember fallen officers.
Dyfed Powys Police Federation secretary Roger Webb is encouraging members to support the event and help raise much-needed funds for COPS.
Roger said: “Light the Lakes sees officers, other emergency services and friends of the police come together to take on the high peaks of the Lake District and to raise funds for COPS.
“The event is everything that’s good about our policing family and gives us a chance to remember colleagues who are no longer with us.
“And after a year in which the pandemic has impacted us all, it’s a chance to come together and raise funds for the great work of COPS.”
The Light the Lakes challenge sees teams climb the 214 Lake District fells on 18 June and light blue flares just before dawn in memory of officers who have died on duty.
The annual event has been taking place since 2012 but was postponed last year due to the pandemic.
Organiser Vinny Wagijani, a detective sergeant with Surrey Police and a Surrey Police Federation rep, hopes to raise £40,000 for COPS, and to raise awareness about the support the charity officers grieving police families.
“COPS is such an important charity,” said Vinny. “I would certainly want them providing that wrap-around service to my family and loved ones should the worse happen to me.
“If we can raise the £40,000 this year, it will take us close to raising £100,000 in total from each of the events for the charity.
“They have missed out on a lot of fund-raising events this past year, and I know they are grateful to everyone taking part.”