Brave police officer steps out for mental health charity
A brave police officer who was run over by a drug dealer has kicked off her latest fundraising initiative in aid of mental health charity Mind.
Pc Claire Bond, who works for Staffordshire Police, suffered life-changing injuries when she was run down while trying to stop disqualified driver Gurajdeep Malhi from driving into runners competing at the Stafford 10K in September 2018.
She was crushed against a fence, breaking both her legs, and then run over while she was on the floor unable to move.
On Sunday, Claire started her latest fundraising challenge – by walking 10km over 10 days to raise cash for Mind.
She started her first walk in the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday, before heading to Weston Park on Monday(14) with colleagues from Cannock Police.
Claire says she will be walking with people who “have influenced, shaped and pretty much dragged me through these last two years”.
Other walks will see her complete 1kms in Trentham Gardens, Birches Valley, Chasewater and Cheslyn Hay.
Her final walk, on September 23, will be the last 1km she completed last year in the Stafford 10k.
Later this week, she will be joined by John Acres from BBC Radio Stoke and the High Sheriff of Staffordshire Charles Bagot Jewitt.
Claire has set a fundraising target of £1,000 – and has already raised nearly £900. She said: “I am already so tired. Originally I thought 1km a day, that’s easy but I am just tired.
"I was really excited about starting them and I don’t if it was that I was too excited.
“Sunday’s walk at the National Memorial Arboretum was lovely, and then on Monday I met up with my old colleagues from shift one, I worked with them for a number of years at Cannock.
“I am hopeful that I will reach my fundraising target – it is such a worthwhile charity that can be used by anybody.
“I am looking forward to the rest of the walks throughout the week.
“I just feel good about doing something that possibly helps one or two people.”
Malhi was jailed for 12 years and nine months in prison in September 2019. He was also handed a nine-year driving ban.
He had pleaded guilty at previous hearings to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
To donate to Claire’s fundraising challenge in aid of Mind, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/claire-bond953.
