Support NSW Police Force Supporting Bear Cottage

The year 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of policing in New South Wales. To mark the occasion on the 13th December, members of the New South Wales Police Force will be taking part in a charity bicycle ride from Sydney  to Goulburn to support Bear Cottage.Bear Cottage is the only children's hospice in New South Wales and was established to help families cope with the impossible - to care for a child who has a life-limiting illness. To care for a child who is unlikely to see their 18th birthday, or their ninth birthday, or sometimes even their first birthday. Bear Cottage needs $2.75 million a year to operate and does not receive any government funding.

The reason Bear Cottage has been chosen is that a current serving police officer who I and other riders worked with was placed in the terrible situation of having a seriously ill young child. Bear Cottage played a significant role in providing support to this officer’s family and sick child during this difficult period. Unfortunately this officer’s child was not able to beat this illness and passed away at the tender age of 2. The officer has always spoken about the great support he and his family received from Bear Cottage and as a small way of saying thank you will also participate in this ride and continues to praise the work done at this facility.

The Major Events and Incidents Group plays an important part of the New South Wales police. The MEIG incorporates sections such as the State Planning Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad, Transport and Mounted Unit. The MEIG was responsible for the deployment of NSW Police to support major emergencies both interstate and overseas including the Queensland floods, Victorian bushfires and New Zealand earthquake. Members of the MEIG will be riding bicycles from the Public Order and Riot Squad base at Sydney Olympic park to the Goulburn Police Academy, a distance of about 200 kilometres, where they will stay overnight on the 13th December before the final attestation parade of the year. It is anticipated that during this parade that a cheque will be presented to Bear Cottage on behalf of the riders. This cheque presentation will be in front of the passing out class, dignitaries, families and friends.

As the event date nears, we will be seeking coverage from local media outlets, in both Sydney and Goulburn. We also plan on setting up a Facebook and Twitter account to give interested people updates of our progress. The New South Wales Police Facebook page currently has over 134000 people following it. We will also be telling our story in Police publications, Police Monthly and Police News. Police Monthly, as the name suggests, is a glossy magazine sent out to all stations within NSW on a monthly basis. Police news is also sent out monthly, to all members of the police association. We will be aiming to have pictures and a story in both of these as the date nears. We also will be writing to national magazine Bicycle Australia to notify them of our venture.

We are writing to you seeking sponsorship of this event.

An event like this does not come without cost though. For your donation to our cause, we will be purchasing shirts bearing your company logo, which will be worn during the ride, and during the presentation of the cheque at attestation parade. We will also be wearing these shirts on training rides and during the Sydney to Gong bicycle ride in November, which we’re going to take part in as a prelude to the longer ride. We will also need to purchase some supplies for the trip, such as spare tubes and tyres, and specific nutritional products. We can assure you that your company logo will gain exposure in a manner that is non-detrimental to your already good name. We would even encourage a representative from your company to attend the attestation parade to ensure that your support is not without merit.

If you are in some way able to assist us, and Bear Cottage, please make contact with Leading Senior Constable Mark DeManuele from the Public Order and Riot Squad on 8765 4099, or by email, where any questions can be answered and any further details can be explained.

Please donate to bank account  BSB 815-000, ACC No 100335270

Mark DeManuele
Leading Senior Consable
Public Order and Riot Squad
1 Edwin Flack Avenue
Homebush Bay 2127
8765 4099
Dema1mar@police.nsw.gov.au