More than £6000 raised at charity concert for seriously injured special constable
A charity concert has helped raise £6,000 for a special
constable who was seriously injured in a road traffic collision
while on duty.
Special constable Reece Clarke, who is based at Billericay and
Wickford, has been in hospital ever since he was involved in a
collision while on duty in Basildon in July 2011.
Staff, officers and their family and friends dug deep at a family
music festival at Essex Police headquarters on Saturday, June 30 to
raise money to help towards his rehabilitation when he leaves
hospital. This is just one of the fundraising events held by
Reece's colleague to help raise funds towards equipment and
care.
The festival was particularly special for Sc Reece Clarke
who made the trip from hospital in an ambulance to see how much
support he has from his police family. This was one of the first
times he has left hospital properly since being admitted last
July.
Around 1,300 adults and children attended the event and a profit
of £1,900 was made on a raffle. An additional £600 was raised from
the food stalls and bouncy castles, who kindly donated a percentage
of their profits.
Essex Police staff and their families enjoyed five live bands
and two solo artists as Sloe Gin, Adam Duffill, The Most, Charlotte
Foreman, The Curves, Afterglow and Cold Fire entertained the
crowds.
The dog unit, the marine unit, the motorcycle unit and FSU all
brought attractions and the force helicopter also visited. The
Essex Police Museum and a WW2 army attraction also helped out with
stalls on the day, as well as several bouncy castles and
inflatable’s to keep children entertained.
Organiser Pc Stuart Burch, from Southend police station, said:
"I am overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of support we have
received from everyone, and I am so pleased that we have raised a
large amount of money for Reece’s trust fund, which will help him
get the equipment he needs to further his rehabilitation.
"Officers and the special constabulary work tirelessly every day
to help keep communities safe, and we wanted to support a colleague
who needs our help. And I am so grateful to all of the local
companies that donated raffle prizes and provided their services
and donated money for Reece’s trust fund."
The event organisers would particularly like to thank Able
Removals Ltd for their £500 donation, Totally Sound Stage for
providing the stage at a discounted rate, Swan Print in Benfleet
for printing all the programmes and banners for the stage and the
ladies and gentleman at Trafford House in Leigh for donating £170
towards the event. Thanks also goes to MGM Inflatables, Blue Ted
Leisure, Rossi ice Cream, Cafe Benitos and Food Shack who all
donated a percentage of their profits.
Since the road traffic collision last year, Essex Police has
provided the appropriate welfare support to Reece’s family, and the
fundraising efforts by individual officers are in addition to the
support already given.
If anyone wishes to make a contribution to Reece's Trust Fund,
then can do by using the following details:
Lloyds TSB Bank
Account Number: 43012568
Sort Code: 30-97-84
