Award For Fundraising Roads Policing Sergeant

A SOUTH Yorkshire Roads Policing Sergeant has won a national Road Peace Award for his efforts in creating safer roads and raising money for charity.

Sgt Brandon Brown committed to doing a bike ride of at least 100km every day for seven days and raised over £1,700 for Road Peace, a national charity that supports people bereaved or seriously injured following road traffic collisions. It was part of the Andy Cox Challenge, set by a Detective Chief Superintendent from Lincolnshire Police, who ran 200km in 2021.

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said that Brandon’s achievements shone a light on the importance of investment in roads policing.

He said: “Brandon’s done an unbelievable job, he’s an absolute credit to the force. He had to fit in raising this money as well as doing his job, which is really, really difficult. It’s an unbelievable achievement and also it shines a light on our roads policing colleagues who often get neglected.

“I know from speaking to roads police officers frequently that their numbers have been decimated over the years and they play such a vital part within the force. That’s one of the areas I think needs investment more than anything.”

Brandon was invited to the Road Peace Awards on 8 September to receive the award for the ‘Best Individual Fundraising Effort’.

He said: “I am a keen cyclist and have previously done Land’s End to John O’Groats, but being older, heavier and now disliking hills, I knew it would be hard, especially with four 12-hour shifts in the middle. But I did it! In total I cycled 742km, just over 100km a day, in all weathers.

“It was a tough week in May, fitting in riding each day around work and general home life, and I was ably assisted along the way by colleagues who all helped keep me ticking over by joining me on some rides.”