Twyford

Twyford officers PC Glyn Wildey and PC Stuart Loudwell and Wokingham town Centre officer PC Sandy Craske are all taking part in the London to Cambridge Bike Ride on July 23 to raise money for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity.

The 50 mile course is a particularly arduous route but it is a cause close to Twyford PC Wildey as his wife Mandy was diagnosed with the disease in 2003.

He said: “Breakthrough is one of the main breast cancer charities and taking part in this bike ride is my way of saying thanks for the care that my wife received and also putting some money back in the pot for other people.

“Breast cancer is something that affects a lot of families and it is nice to try and give something back.”

PCs Wildey and Craske took part in the ride last year, where they were joined by former Earley officer PC Craig Riley, and they have roped PC Loudwell into taking part this time.

Twyford PC Wildey: “I did no training at all last year and I have to say I found the last 10 miles really painful, but I had a family interest to keep me going.

“I have done some training this time and, although it is not a race, I have set myself a personal challenge of beating last year’s time of just over five hours.

“Sandy is doing the ride again and I have managed to trick my Twyford colleague into joining us this year. The plan will be to try and cycle together, but if it is anything like last year that will be impossible simply because of the number of people.

“I think there was an hour between the first and last person in our group finishing last year.”

The officers raised £600 for the charity last year and they are hoping for a similar response this year.

PC Wildey said: “It was fantastic to raise that total last year, but we are not setting any targets.

“We take the attitude that any amount of money we can raise is very helpful to the charity.”

Anyone who wants to sponsor the team should contact PC Wildey via e-mail at glyn.wildey@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford