Dudley police swap pavements for Hadrian’s Wall (From Dudley News)

Dudley police swap pavements for Hadrian’s Wall

10:10am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

ELEVEN adventurous Dudley police officers are getting set to swap the borough’s pavements for Hadrian’s Wall later this week as they raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, after being inspired by the courage of a colleague’s young daughter.

The team of constables, community support officers, sergeants and detectives based in Dudley’s Castle and Priory neighbourhood team and Brierley Hill Police Station are set to begin the gruelling 88-mile route on Thursday and aim to finish in three days time.

The officers decided to hold the sponsored fundraiser in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support to support colleague, Dc Steve Doggett, who has firsthand experience of the vital work the charity undertake.

Dc Doggett’s daughter, Laura, aged 24, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in September last year and has been allocated a Macmillan nurse to help with her palliative care.

The walkers, made up of Pc Paul Davies, Pc Dan Potts, Pc Carey Westwood, Pc Tristram Oliver, Pc Adam Bradley, Sgt Steve Gordon, DC Jules Hawley, PCSO John Link, DC Craig Ryder, DC Paul McElhinney and DC Doggett have already received donations to pay for a minibus and fuel as well as Macmillan Cancer Support t-shirts to wear throughout the fundraiser, so all money raised will go straight to the charity, with the group aiming at raising £750.

Young Persons Officer, Pc Paul Davies, who has organised the event, said: “Everyone is excited and ready for Thursday now I think. Although I know some of the officers have definitely underestimated it, as one of them said to me ‘I’ve been walking since I was 18 months-old, so I don’t need to train to walk now’, so we’ll see how they get on, I don’t think they realise how difficult it’s going to be.”

To sponsor the officers visit justgiving.com/HadrianswallDY.

Sponsorship forms are also available at Dudley and Brierley Hill police stations.