Wilmslow based PC Lee Spencer was amongst six men from Cheshire Police Eastern Area who completed what has been described as 'The ultimate ten mile endurance test' on Sunday, September 12th.
The test involved running ten miles over land, which is often used to test tanks and other military vehicles and includes steep hills, water and mud - whilst carrying a rucksack weighing 35 lbs which is the equivalent of sixteen bags of sugar.
Lee, with four other Police Officers and one member of Police Staff, was raising money for Help the Heroes and for the North West Police Benevolent Fund at the Paras Ten event. It is the one day each year that the course is open to civilians and the "P Company Challenge" which they took on, is the toughest race of the whole event.
Would-be recruits to the Parachute Regiment are put through the same test on the same course at the regiment's base in Catterick. They have to complete the test in one hour fifty minutes whilst Territorial Army soldiers are allowed two hours and for this special event, civilians are set a three hours limit.
The Cheshire Police entry came through with flying colours with Constable Lee Spencer beating the Para deadline of one hour fifty minutes. His colleagues Mark Cook, Sergeant Phil Clark and Sergeant Richard Tomlinson beat two hours. Constable Adrian Hurlestone and Mick Cope, a Police Staff member from the Eastern Customer Service desk, came in at just over two hours.
Police Sergeant Mark Cook said, "It hurts! The hills and most of the water crossings are after the six mile mark when you are nearly exhausted anyway. Then, you have to run up these steep gradients with your trousers and boots full of water.
"We passed two people who had collapsed with dehydration. They were lying there with the packs on their backs, looking like turtles. It was the toughest physical test any of us have experienced but it was well worth it to support two worthwhile charities."
At the end of the race they had raised £500, but they hope more money will still come in. They have set up a Just Giving website for anyone who wants to recognize their efforts and support the charities.
Photo (l to r) Lee Spencer from Wilmslow with team members Richard Tomlinson (Crewe), Mick Cope (Crewe), Phil Clark (Macclesfield), Mark Cook (Sandbach) and Adrian Hurlestone (Nantwich).
