Light the Lakes raises more than £30,000 for COPS

More than two thousand flares recently lit up the hills in Cumbria as part of this year’s spectacular Light the Lakes which has raised more than £30,000 so far for COPS.

The annual fundraising event saw thousands of people climb one of the Wainwright peaks and light a torch at 3am in honour of fallen colleagues.

The COPS team, along with survivor and COPS National President Gill Marshall, survivors Lissie Harper, Samantha Dixon, and Jill Forster, the Stockport Police Cadets, and charity patron Penny Lancaster, took on Lingmoor fell.

For a few it was the first time taking on such a momentous, as well as demanding, challenge.

Survivor Jill Forster described it as an incredible experience and despite the rain and not having any waterproof jacket, she would do it again.

“I would absolutely do Light the Lakes again – I didn’t think so at 1.30am when I was cold and tired but we’re already thinking about next year’s event,” she said.

The lighting of the flares was a moving moment for Samantha, whose husband PC James ‘Dixie’ Dixon died in a traffic collision in 2017.

She described it as “emotional, humbling and amazing”.

“It was a challenge that gave me a sense of achievement for myself as well as for Dixie,” she said.

“I am already planning for next year.”

Survivor Lissie Harper added: “It was just as magical an experience as I had imagined it would be.

“Not being much of a hiker myself I was proud to have achieved climbing the peak alongside everyone else including others who have lost someone from the Blue line family.

“As I stood on top of Lingmoore peak shoulder to shoulder with my good friend and widow Sam Dixon looking out across the darkness of the beautiful lakes and spotting other head torches appear we knew we were not alone, not merely on that night in that chilled landscape, but in life.

“We knew that so many other people care about what we have lost, they were there with us in that moment, flares in hand waving above their heads in memory of the brave and heroic officers who have sadly fallen.

“Together we would remember them.”

Gill Marshall said: “I wasn’t totally sure what to expect if I’m honest, but the weather looked decent, and I figured it would be an opportunity to take part in one of our fundraising challenges.

“We started out in mild conditions and in high spirits, which only became slightly dampened as the rain began to fall.

“We worked our way to the top of the fell and settled in to await the 3am lighting up time. I will admit to being a bit soggy, cold and tired by the time 3am rolled round but the anticipation of the flare lighting kept us going.

“We had seen the odd torch light on the other hills around us as the evening went on but this was nothing compared to the spectacle of watching as one by one the hills were lit by the flares of all the walkers across 210 peaks.”

She added: “In that moment the cold and damp were forgotten as I paused to take in the sight, and remember why we were all there.”

The climb itself took around two hours to complete, with the team setting off on Friday evening to make it to the top in time for nightfall.

The climbers then had five hours to recuperate before the light-up took place.

Not all the action took place on Lingmoor, there were survivors tackling other fells as part of the event.

Christine Grew, together with son Benjamin and dog Rox, climbed a peak on their own.

“Neither of us are serious walkers, we’ve never been at the top of a peak in the dark so it was a bit of a challenge,” Christine admitted.

“The route we took goes past Aira Force, a place I went with Adrian when I was a few months pregnant. As we walked, I thought a lot about Adrian, how different our lives have been since we lost him, all the people we’ve met via COPS and the loved ones they’ve lost too. I don’t know what we’d do without our COPS family.

“As 3am approached Ben was fast asleep, Rox looked at me like I was crazy leaving the tent, so it was just me. I’d never handled a flare before so consulted instructions from a COPS friend. I peeled off the paper, pulled back the wick (a little too enthusiastically it seems) as it came off in my hand.

“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I thought how Adrian would have reacted and found myself giggling in the dark to myself.

“I couldn’t miss lighting up so ran to the tent, grabbed Ben’s blue glowstick, snapped it into action and waved it around pretending it was a flare! Not how I pictured it but you have to adapt to what you have available.”

She added: “Seeing the flares in the dark across the peaks was an incredibly special and moving experience.”

Once safely down the mountain, and after some well-earned rest, people had the chance to meet for food and speeches on Saturday at Brathay Hall, during which Gill and Penny thanked those involved and paid tribute to the family members who support police officers.

Lin Woodward, who did a roaring trade at the COPS shop with daughter Jo, said: “The event was wonderful. Especially after Covid being able to see and meet so many people was great. The whole weekend was so well organised.”

Light the Lakes Organiser Vinny Wagijani, a Detective Sergeant with Surrey Police, called the event a huge success.

He said: “We covered two more peaks than in 2019 and have had more than 2,000 people take part – I’m completely overwhelmed with the support and generosity shown by people.”

To date, the event has raised more than a staggering £100,000 which helps toward providing practical and emotional support for the surviving families of police officers such as peer support events and access to counselling.

Details for next year’s event have already been released.

For more information or to take part, go to https://lightthelakes.org.uk/