So on her birthday my sister and I will be swimming a mile in the serpentine to raise money for The Police Treatment Centre, the reason We are raising for this charity is because they have personally helped me. Over the last few years I have had a run of bad luck health wise and I have gone through two fairly big operations just 6 months apart one for endometriosis and some pretty severe spinal injuries finally necessitated surgery this year. As a serving police officer when I started in the job I was given the opportunity to pay just a few pounds a week into The Police Treatment Centre charity, it was optional and when I say just a few pounds I mean just that ....roughly the cost of a pint a month comes out of my salary and believe me I'm glad I did.

 What does this money do? Well it pays for two centres in the country where officers injured on duty (or like me off duty), those suffering from chronic illness, or post traumatic stress, mental health and stress related issues a place to come where they are given one to one physio and or wellbeing treatment. A personal plan is made for each officer and they stay onsite to maximise benefits. The centres have on site physios, gym instructors, nurses, mental health nurses and counsellors as well as a purpose built gym, sports hall, Pool and hydrotherapy pool. All food and accommodation is provided with adjustment made for physical and dietary requirements.

Whilst here I have been helped to strengthen my body and taught ways in which to support my spine reducing the pain and tension I carry and increasing mobility to get me on the right track to get back to full duty. The staff here are amazing and help you through every step and everyone of the patients I have met here with everything ranging from damaged shoulders and knees to PTSD have said the same. Even retired officers are able to access the facilities. 

Policing is a high stress job both on body and mind and very little support is given to officers from within the force, The police treatment centre gives that much needed support to officers and their families. Not many people raise for police charities, and unfortunately only around 50% of officers pay into the charity leaving a great need for fundraising. I estimate that my two week stay here costs at least £1000 which is why I have set our target here, anything you can do to help small or large is appreciated especially when we are in that cold serpentine water!!

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