Six police officers from Hackney and Tower Hamlets climbed Snowdon in just under five hours raising over £5000 for a charity set up in memory of their colleague Matt Ratana who was shot dead last year.
Nick Fox, Joshua Long, Tom Pearson, Freddie Clark, Matt Patterson and Kieran Cook from the Central East Command Unit climbed the Welsh mountain on Wednesday May 12 in full training gear, making the summit in four hours and 59 minutes.
Police Constable Nick Fox, who organised the trip, said: “We wanted to do something for Matt and the foundation set up in his honour, which is all about wellbeing, inclusion and teamwork.
“Climbing Snowdon is something we have always wanted to do and then I had the idea that we could do it in full Level 2 gear to make it that bit tougher. That certainly worked and the physicality of this challenge would not have been lost on Matt.”
Fox added: “We decided to climb the PYG trail on Snowdon with an aim to complete it – up and down – in five hours. A challenge of this kind has not been attempted before and certainly has not been completed in this time, so I am very pleased we managed to do it with a minute to spare and have already raised over £5000.
“It was tough, but a lot of fun and it was for a cause that is close to all of our hearts.”
Ratana, 54, was fatally shot as he prepared to search a handcuffed suspect at the custody centre, in the early hours of September 25 last year.
The Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation was created shortly after the incident with the aim of supporting young people through rugby initiatives which Ratana, also a rugby coach, had a passion for.
With donations and the money raised the charity hopes to improve rugby equipment and facilities in schools and Clubs across the UK, New Zealand and South Africa.
The Duke of Cambridge and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick visited the Croydon custody centre last week to pay respects to the officer and his family.
Dick, who welcomed the Duke during his visit, said: “The awful killing of Sergeant Matt Ratana sent shockwaves through the Met and I know we continue to mourn his loss.”
