Ryedale cops tackle Italian job for charity (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale cops tackle Italian job for charity

TWO North Yorkshire Police officers are limbering up to join 8,000 runners tackling the grueling Rome City Marathon next month.

Sergeant Paul Stephenson, of the eastern area road policing group based at Malton Police Station, and Helmsley community beat officer, PC Ray Thwaites, will pound 26 miles of the Italian capital's streets on March 13 to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice, Scarborough.

The bobbies' course includes six of the city's famous seven hills, missing out the steepest.

"We want to raise as much money as possible," said PC Thwaites. "I'm doing it in memory of my father-in-law John Robert Marshall, of Hunmanby, who passed away last week. He was a cancer patient and St Catherine's Hospice staff looked after him for eight weeks. They were magic with him and looked after him so well.

"Paul and I have paid for our travel, accommodation, and all other costs ourselves, so every penny we raise will go to the charity."

They have already completed a number of charity events and runs together, including the New York Marathon in 2003, where they raised £5,000 for the Weston Spirit, a national youth charity that tackles issues of social exclusion in young people.

Paul and Ray are holding a car wash outside Helmsley Police Station, Ashdale Road, on Saturday between 9am and 4pm where people can have their car washed by local volunteers in return for filling in a sponsorship form.

To pledge sponsorship, email your full address and amount you want to give to Ray.Thwaites@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or call the North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 247.

Sponsorship forms are also available in stores around Helmsley.

Updated: 15:01 Wednesday, February 09, 2005