Hackney a la Med
1,200km charity challenge team hit the road
Metropolitan Police officers from Hackney Borough, along with staff from Hackney Council and the Crown Prosecution Service set off from Hackney Town Hall at 10am, 18 September. The team are running and cycling 1,200km in a non-stop relay from Hackney to the French Mediterranean coast, to try and raise £30,000 for charity. Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Tim Godwin and Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe were on hand to wish them luck. Chief Superintendent Steve Dann, Hackney’s Borough Commander is driving one of the support vehicles down to Paris.
Pictured with the Hackney a la Med team are Hackney Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Steve Dann (centre), Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe (centre right) and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Tim Godwin (far right).
The gruelling 72-hour challenge aims to raise funds for three local and national charities (see below for further details):
- Skyway – providing youth-led personal support to disadvantaged young people aged 10-25 in Hackney
- Chance UK – providing mentoring support to primary school aged children in Hackney
- Macmillan Cancer Support - working to improve the lives of everyone with cancer
The 20-strong team is calling on businesses and individuals to support them in their endeavours. Money can be donated via the www.hackneyalamed.com website, or at one of the collection boxes at Stoke Newington Police Station, 33 Stoke Newington High Street, N16.
The team set off today from Hackney Town Hall. They are running in relay to Folkestone and then through northern France to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The cyclists will then pick up the baton for the long haul to Montpellier on the south coast of France, a total distance of 1,200km.
Chief Superintendent Steve Dann, Hackney’s Borough Commander, said, “The money raised from this challenge will go to providing assistance to vulnerable young people in Hackney, as well as those affected by cancer, three charities of great significance to officers and staff in Hackney. It’s going to be a gruelling challenge for all involved but I’ve no doubt they will be successful and will raise valuable funds to benefit our local community.”
Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, said,
“The Council is pleased to be able to support such a worthwhile endeavour to raise funds for both local and national charities. I’m delighted to see officers and staff from across the borough pulling together and wish them the very best of luck in their three-day challenge.”
The team is being sponsored by London Fields Cycles of Mare Street, Hackney, Xcel Energy Drinks and Buy-To-Let Montpellier, alongside generous support from Hackney Police’s social fund and Hackney Council.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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