Bobbies go extra mile in memory of Nicola

PCs Jenni Harlow-Smith and Stuart Rostron, pictured with Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, have teamed up with colleagues to raise money for the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund by running the New York Marathon

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POLICE officers will swap the streets of Greater Manchester for the streets of New York as they prepare to take on the famous city's marathon for the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund.

The charity was set up to honour PC Nicola Hughes, from Saddleworth, who was murdered alongside colleague PC Fiona Bone by Dale Cregan in Mottram in September 2012.

PCs Jenni Harlow-Smith and Stuart Rostron have now teamed up with fellow colleagues to raise money for the charity, having supported the people of Mottram after the murders.

PC Harlow-Smith said: "Nicola and Fiona were responding to a routine police incident, something Stu and I do daily.

"The feeling between everyone was that it could easily have been us.

"The fund looks at helping young people by making a difference to their lives when they have been affected by violence, as the Hughes family has, by equipping them with skills for the future."

The charity, founded by Nicola's father Bryn Hughes, aims to provide learning opportunities and pre-employment skills to children and young people who have suffered the loss of a close family member through violent crime or manslaughter.

PC Rostron said: "We first got involved with the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund with the first 'Run To Remember' fundraising event. As officers we worked in Mottram after Nicola and Fiona were tragically killed and, afterwards, we both felt we wanted to help in any way that we could. "When we heard about the New York marathon we immediately let Bryn know that we wanted to take part."

Jenni and Stu will be joined by GMP colleagues as well as officers from police forces across the country at the marathon in November.

Bryn Hughes, PC Nicola Hughes' father, said: "It means so much to me that the runners from GMP are willing to put themselves through the arduous training for a marathon on behalf of the charity."

GMP Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "The memorial fund helps young people who have experienced horrendous tragedy and gives a lifeline to those who are struggling. It is a charity that is extremely close to all of our hearts."

Anyone wishing to sponsor Jenni and Stu, can do so at justgiving.com/jenniandstu or by texting 'JHSR99 £(amount you wish to donate)' to 70070.