Jo Gillespie from Police CPI shares her experience of taking part in this year’s Light the Lakes – an overnight hike in the Lake District to raise funds for Care of Police Survivors (COPS).
I found out about Light the Lakes in the first few months of joining Police CPI.
I enjoy hiking and the outdoors, and it was a chance to spend time getting to know colleagues – so I signed up.
It wasn’t until plans were more concrete, meetings were in the diary and T-shirts had been ordered that the stories began to surface – tales of past attempts by the Police CPI team in the Lakes involving driving rain, freezing temperatures and emergency shelters.
I started to wonder whether I’d made the right decision…
The first Light the Lakes took place on the 28th of April 2012 to raise money for the orphaned children of Surrey Detective Constable Heather Cooper who was murdered.
Organised by retired Police Sergeant Ian Davis, 594 police officers, colleagues and friends took part in the inaugural event hiking up the peaks of the Lake District and lighting blue flares at 3am from the summit of each to raise more than £30,000.
Light the Lakes is now an annual tradition which sees teams of police officers, staff, retired officers and police friends light up the famous 214 Wainwright fells of Cumbria in memory of colleagues that have died.
We raise money to support COPS (Care of Police Survivors), a charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers and staff who have died on duty by offering peer support, counselling and practical help to surviving family members as they rebuild their lives.
COPS is the Police CPI’s nominated charity and this year’s team consisted of team leader Allan and his daughter Ellie, her colleague Lou from North Yorkshire Police, Stephen, Julian, Nic and my husband Alasdair and me.
Having climbed Sheffield Pike last year, our team leader Allan got in early eager to ‘book it again’ – because with some 1,500 people taking part from teams across the UK, even mountain summits need reserving to avoid a clash at the top!
Standing an impressive 2,215 ft/675m Sheffield Pike lies in the Eastern Fells of the Lake District.
All we had to do was hike up, pitch our tents, cook dinner and enjoy the view. Oh and set our alarms for 2.45am to light the beacons for 3am.
However, due to unusually dry weather in the lead up to the event this year, local authorities were concerned about the high risk of wildfires so we were issued blue glowsticks instead of flares.
Incredibly the forecast promised sunshine, but we all knew how quickly that could change in the mountains.
Spirits were high as we set off at 5pm, particularly after a few bevvies at the local pub where we all met to start the hike.
We were under strict instructions from Ailis back at the office not to leave too late to start the climb and Stephen was clock watching to make sure we set off with plenty of time.
With rucksacks hoisted onto our shoulders carrying tents, sleeping bags and food we set off. Keen hikers Ellie and Lou led the pack keen to try a new route up the peak this year.
It was all going smoothly along the road on the flat to the start of the trail, but almost immediately we were confronted with a very steep and rocky climb up.
It was still a very warm 24 degrees and stumbling over uneven ground on the climb we all quickly felt the weight of our backpacks.
It soon became abundantly clear this wasn’t going to be an easy trek up!
We had to stop for plenty of water breaks and short rests on the way up and it was a tough climb.
At times we almost forgot to look at the incredible views of the lakes and vistas behind us that opened up as we ascended.
It’s safe to say we all found the final section a particular struggle but we made it and were rewarded with panoramic views of Ullswater and the peaks around us.
There was no rest for the wicked though as time was ticking – it was nearly 9pm and we still had our tents to put up and dinner to cook!
We were all too tired to stay up drinking, and even though it was the longest day of the year the light was fading fast so it was heads down and alarms set.
We must have all managed to get some sleep because bleary eyed, head torches on we all headed up to the top of the peak for 3am.
The night was clear and from the peaks around us we caught glimpses of other distant blue lights, it was comforting but also strange to think of other groups of crazy people waving their glowsticks madly into the night sky.
Allan commented: “Sheffield Pike is a great summit for Light the Lakes as it has beautiful views across Ullswater and the fells which never fail to impress.
Then, when you are stood on the summit at 3am with your lit flare, it is possible to see other groups on the surrounding Wainwrights, at which point the collective efforts from the policing family to support COPS are visible, and its truly humbling.”
A few more hours sleep and it was time to get up. Some of us needed more help than others to pack away our tents…I don’t want to mention any names (Stephen).
We were exhausted but the pace picked up on the much easier descent down particularly with the promise of a tantalizing hot breakfast waiting for us at a café in Penrith – which was much deserved by all.
Julian summed it up: “The annual Light the Lakes charity hike was a fantastic success once again, made even better this year by glorious weather.
“The route was more challenging with steeper climbs than in previous years, but the incredible camaraderie and phenomenal views from both during the ascent and at the summit made it all worthwhile.
“We’re already looking forward to 2026!”
I think I may have inadvertently already signed up again next year and I actively encourage everyone else to join in the madness….
As a Police-owned, not-for-profit organisation, Police CPI works closely with the Police Service and a number of the team have a background in policing.
As such, COPS is a charity that is very near to the hearts of many in the organisation, and the entire staff team are incredibly proud of the group who took on the Light the Lakes challenge.
Lisa Meads, CEO at Care of Police Survivors, congratulated the team on their accomplishment: “We are so very grateful for the ongoing support from Police CPI and sending a special Thank You to Alan, Alasdair, Elle, Jo, Lou, Nic, Julian, Stephen who took part this year and of course, everyone who supported them.
“The partnership between Police CPI and Care of Police Survivors goes from strength to strength – together we will help our bereaved police families to rebuild their shattered lives.”
You can continue to donate at the Police CPI Light the Lakes Just Giving page.
