More than 250 riders from across the UK (and even overseas!) have completed the first-ever Virtual Police Unity Tour (VPUT) raising over £70,000 in the process!
This year, with the pandemic causing the usual event to be postponed, the organisers decided to create a fully virtual event, with entrants tasked with cycling 100 miles between 15th-25th October however they could.
While some riders took to the roads and braved the October weather, many others completed the feat on exercise or training bikes. The purpose of the event was that everyone could take part and help raise awareness of fallen officers and support our work by raising vital funds.
We spoke to some of those who took part, survivors included, about how they found the new-look event…
“This year’s ride is very different to the usual PUT! It’s a mental struggle as much as a physical struggle seeing as there’s not the wider team to support you through all the hills! I’ve been completing my miles through a mixture of spin classes, on a watt bike and out on the road, and it’s been a real task dragging myself out in the cold instead of peak summer!
“I heard about the group from Leicestershire Police who did the 100 miles in one day and a friend I met on my first PUT tagged me in the post saying she was thinking of my family. It’s humbling knowing we are all still in it together despite these current times!”
“Without the COPS service and Unity Tour this year, Team Leicestershire set about supporting the virtual ride. Somewhere along the line the concept, ‘do 100 miles in 10 days virtually’, became ‘let’s do the 100 miles in one day on the road’!
“So a socially distanced mixture of 15 officers, staff, retired colleagues and family set off in small groups from police HQ to do a 102-mile lap of the force. Thanks to help from those who made food, and the efforts of all of the riders, backed by some generous support we’ve currently raised almost £3,000 for COPS.
“For some of the riders it was their first COPS ride, and their first 100-mile ride. It was great to see all of Team Leicestershire make it back to HQ, and to know that we’ve helped to support a charity that, sadly, we know all about here.”
“As a trustee of COPS I’m only too aware of the incredible contribution from the people who run and do the Unity Tour each year, and the effort is amazing. This year’s Virtual Tour was a great opportunity to get involved. A major heart operation in 2014 means doing the real Tour would be beyond me, but the virtual ride means I can divide up the distance over the 10 days and contribute. I aimed for around 10 to 15 miles per day split over a couple of sessions, and I’m even feeling a little fitter from my efforts.
“The PUT contributes so much to COPS. Without them we could not provide the range of services to support the families of officers lost on duty. It’s great that despite the pandemic we have still been able to hold an event and people like myself are able to take part.”
“I’ve been a police officer in the state of Maryland in the United States for the past 26 years. I’m a member of the US Police Unity Tour and the UK Police Unity Tour. This year’s virtual ride gave me the chance to take part and support COPS without having to travel.
“I decided to ride the 100 miles by myself and in one day. I rode from my hometown of Hughesville to Point Lookout Park, which is just outside of Scotland, Maryland. Being a part of the Unity Tour in both countries has given me the opportunity to let the families of these fallen officers know that we will not forget the sacrifice their loved ones have made.”