Officers to run for fallen colleague

FROM the left: Bryn Hughes, Sergeant Michelle Lomas, PC Jennifer Reeve, Sergeant Cecelia Oakley, PC Jenni Smith, PC Stuart Rostron and Chief Constable Ian Hopkins

SIX Greater Manchester Police officers will take on the gruelling New York Marathon to raise funds for their gunned-down colleague's charity.

In September 2012, PC Nicola Hughes (23), of Diggle, and her colleague PC Fiona Bone (32) of Sale, were murdered in a gun attack whilst attending a routine burglary call in Mottram, Tameside.

Nicola's father, Bryn Hughes, set up a memorial fund to provide children, who have been affected by the loss of a family member through a violent crime, with learning opportunities and pre-employment skills in the form of grants or services.

The six GMP officers have been training for the 26.5 mile race for a number of months and on Sunday will run alongside Bryn Hughes as well as representatives from a number of UK police forces.

Regarding the marathon, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "The PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund is a charity that is understandably very close to all our hearts at GMP.

"We will all be supporting and wishing the very best to the six officers taking part in the marathon.

"Their dedication and determination to raise funds for an exceptional charity cannot be applauded enough."

He added: "The funds they raise will help provide a much-needed lifeline to a number of children and young people who have experienced the horror of losing a close family member through a violent crime."

The six GMP officers taking part are Stu Rostron, Jenni Smith, Aaron Duggan, Jennifer Reeve, Michelle Lomas and Cecelia Oakley.

Anyone wishing to support the officers by making a donation to the PC Nicola Hughes Fund can do so via pcnicolahughesmemorialfund.co.uk.