Runners are asked to support 200k run to raise money for road safety charity RoadPeace

Keen runners are being urged to support a senior police officer in a 200k run this month to raise money for the road safety charity, RoadPeace.

Det Chief Supt Andy Cox, who is Head of Crime at Lincolnshire Police, will complete the ambitious challenge during Global Road Safety Week, which runs from May 17-23, 2021.

He is calling for people to support him by running, cycling or walking alongside him – joining in for all or for just part of the nine-day event.

Improving road safety is important to many people in the county, including Chris Lewis, Policy Development Officer – Victims and Road Safety at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, Kate Castle from Warwickshire Road Safety Education Team and Fay Wileman Warwickshire Road Safety Administrator, who are amongst those to pledge their support.

They will be accompanying Det Chief Supt Cox on the Warwickshire leg that starts from Kilsby, Northamptonshire on 21 May and ends that evening in Wibtoft, Warwickshire and then continues on 22 May to Sibson, Leicestershire.

Warwickshire Police will also be showing their support with the provision of a liveried police van at the start.

Poignantly, Det Chief Supt Cox will start running at the location of the first ever UK fatal road collision, near Crystal Palace, in London, and end at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire, which provides a symbolic and comforting place for bereaved families.

Det Chief Supt Cox, who is the national lead for fatal collision investigation, reporting to the National Police Chiefs’ Council, became well-known in 2020 when he led a social media campaign to reduce speeding.

During the first UK lockdown, he became an unofficial national spokesperson for road safety, which saw his Twitter followers increase by 10,000 in just a few months.

He has been interviewed on a number of occasions by Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2, LBC Radio’s James O’Brien and by Vanessa Feltz on BBC Radio London.

Most recently, the senior police officer also appeared live on the BBC Crimewatch television programme, where he spoke about his upcoming challenge.

The route will take him through a number of UK counties where he is hopeful that police officers, road safety professionals and members of the public will join him, covering some of the distance alongside him.

This will not only help to raise additional funds for RoadPeace, but it will help to promote road safety locally.

He has already raised more than £16,000 of his £25,000 target, but he is urging others to take part in the event to help him to increase this amount.

The route he will take:

May 15 - Crystal Palace to Brent Cross, London

May 16 - Brent Cross to St Albans, Herts

May 17 - St Albans to Dunstable, Beds

May 18 - Dunstable to Bletchley, Berks

May 19 - Bletchley to Towcester, Northants

May 20 - Towcester to Kilsby, Northants

May 21 - Kilsby to Wibtoft, Warks

May 22 - Wibtoft to Sibson, Leics

May 23 - Sibson to National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffs

Det Chief Supt Cox said: “I’d be delighted for people to join me in this important event – by running, cycling or walking part of the route alongside me.

“Running such a long distance will be challenging and the support of those around me will make all the difference - so please do get in touch if you’d like to join me.”

He added: “RoadPeace do an amazing job to support seriously injured people and bereaved families, helping them come to terms with their loss and supporting them through such a terrible experience.

“They also play a key role in advocating for road safety change and in doing so seeking improvements across the system, to help prevent future collisions and to improve the experience and processes for those who sadly have been affected.

“Following the pandemic and the cancellation of many fundraising events, RoadPeace needs our support more than ever right now.”

Chris Lewis, Policy Development Officer – Victims and Road Safety at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire said: “I think what Andy is doing is superb – a great personal effort to promote such a worthwhile cause. Collectively we need to do more to support individuals and families who lose their lives on our roads or sustain terrible life changing injuries. Too many still suffer because of too many needless crashes. I feel very honoured and proud to run alongside Andy. I hope others from Warwickshire can join us.”

Mark Ryder, Strategic Director for Communities, said: "Warwickshire County Council’s Road Safety Education Team are supporting Det. Ch. Supt Cox as he undertakes this incredible challenge of running 200km.

"Raising awareness of road safety issues, delivering vital road safety education, and encouraging people to recognise that road safety is a key issue for everyone is at the forefront of all we do. We deliver road safety education with the aim of encouraging people to choose safe and active travel options and to reduce casualties on Warwickshire's roads."

If you would like to take part in the event in any way please contact [email protected]

Like many charities the pandemic has impacted upon RoadPeace as there have been less fundraising events and this has left them financially challenged.

To donate please click here https://www.justgiving.com/team/WCCroadsafety to visit Warwickshire’s fund-raising page. This is linked to Andy’s fund-raising page here and all money donated will go to RoadPeace.

You can follow the challenge on social media using #AndyCox200km