Merseyside Police PCSO Barry Calder will walk the equivalent of five marathons in five days to honour those affected by tragedy and those who serve our communities every day.
Barry, who served 30-years with the Metropolitan Police before moving to the northwest, was among the first on scene at the 2024 Southport attacks and will visit every operational police station in Merseyside between July 6 and 10 in memory of the victims.
He is hoping to raise more than £2,400 for Hope’s Help and Police Care UK, with 25 per cent of the proceeds going towards our work helping mitigate the impact of physical or psychological harm experienced in policing.
“Policing never really leaves you. Whether as a firearms officer or a PCSO, it’s about protecting people, making our communities safer and being there when it matters most,” says Barry.
“Many of us carry trauma from what we have witnessed and endured. It used to be taboo to talk about mental health struggles, but that has to change. Reaching out for support is not a sign of weakness – it is an act of strength.”
Barry, a former firearms and venue protection officer for the Royal Family, isn’t just honouring the victims of the 2024 Southport attacks this week, he’s walking to give something back to a charity that was there for him when he needed it most.
He is a Police Care UK beneficiary having sought our help in the wake of his PTSD diagnosis and attributes the charity’s work to him being able to return to work.
“Police Care is an amazing Charity and I, like many, owe them so much,” he adds.
“I’ve no doubt if it hadn’t been for the help they provided, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my work serving the community in Southport. Thank you Police Care for all you do.”
Click here to support his efforts.
