DETERMINED officers are limbering up to run two miles a day to raise money in memory of a fallen colleague.

Fifty officers and police staff from across Essex are taking part in Run to Remember, a national event set up to raise cash for the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund.

PC Hughes was murdered on duty in Manchester last September.

Her family have set up a fund to raise money to support young people who have lost a family member to violent crime.

Police run two miles a day for 125 days and started the challenge on December 1.

Runners in south Essex have been given a helping hand by LA Fitness in Billericay, which has given them free use of their treadmills.

Det Con Tracey Megaw, who has been co-ordinating Essex officers’ involvement, said: “Initially we were told to gather a team of ten runners, but 50 people have come forward which is brilliant.

“People are running either on treadmills or outdoors – everyone has to complete 250 miles in 125 days starting on December 1 and finishing on April 4 next year. This is to tie in with Bryn Hughes, PC Hughes’ dad, taking part in a run across the North Pole.”

Sgt Paul Costin, based at Billericay police station, said: “The Run to Remember is a way for us to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty.

“Those officers were attending a burglary, what they thought was a routine incident.

“They could never have imagined how that situation would have turned out.”

To sponsor the officers go to www.justgiving.com/ Essex PoliceTeam and to find out more, go to www.pchughesnorthpolerun.

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