At the start of August, five cyclists and a piper will travel from our Remembrance Gardens at Brooklyn, to the National Arboretum, Staffordshire to raise money for the Care of Police Survivors charity as part of a UK wide Police fundraising event.

This year we will “ride to remember” six officers who lost their life in the line of duty;

Sgt Stephen Gillespie who died as a result of the injuries he received 2nd May 1991 after a rocket propelled grenade attack on his mobile patrol in Mica Street, Belfast.

Constable Gary Martin, who died on 27th April 1981, when the abandoned lorry he attempted to move exploded, Anderstown, Belfast.

Constable Tracy Doak, who died on 20th May 1985, alongside three colleagues when a bomb exploded as their vehicle passed a parked trailer near Killen, Newry

Constable Kevin Gorman who died alongside three colleagues, in on duty road traffic collision on 23rd November 2008 in Rostrevor, County Down.

Constable Stephen Carrol, who died as a result of a shooting attack on his patrol vehicle on 9th March 2009, Portadown.

Constable Philippa Reynolds who also died on duty as a result of a road traffic collision involving a stolen vehicle on 9th Feb 2013, Derry/Londonderry.

Care of Police Survivors, (COPS) is a charity that provides peer support to families of fallen officers across the UK. This support is in addition to the work of our RUCGC-PSNI Benevolent fund and other support groups based here within Northern Ireland.

Your entire donation will go directly to the charitable purpose of supporting these officers’ families.

Last year we received over £3500 by voluntary donations from retired members and others. On behalf of the charity we sincerely thank you for your generosity.