Officers to take part in Three Peaks Challenge for charity

This summer, two of our officers will be completing the National Three Peaks Challenge for charity.From 14 to 16 June, dog handler PC Leah Smith (right) and PC Paige Attwood (left), from our armed response unit, will be climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales.They will be doing the 26-mile trek on behalf of mental health charity Mind, which works alongside Police Care UK to provide mental health support to serving and retired police officers.PC Paige Attwood said: "Even though one in four people have mental health problems, most of us don't get the help that we need. This has to change."As police officers, we attend jobs involving mental health problems almost every shift. Most of these are where people are at crisis point and are requesting help."We are great at giving advice and providing that help and assistance for those in need, but, in the process, we often neglect our own mental health."PC Leah Smith added: "It's easy to forget the amount of traumatic incidents we witness during our daily jobs. Some of these incidents can have lasting effects on officers' mental health."We need to get better at asking for help and looking after our own mental health, and to start talking about our struggles and accepting that we are not invincible.

"Mind's presence as a support network to offer information, advice and referrals to local services is invaluable. We are only too happy to undertake this challenge, in order to raise money to help them to continue their good work."

Paige and Leah have set themselves a fundraising target of £1,850. If you would like to donate, please visit their Just Giving page:

Paige and Leah Op's is fundraising for Mind (justgiving.com)