HARRY’S 200KM TRIBUTE TO COP DAD KILLED ON WAY TO WORK
Youngster, 12, has raised more than £3k for charity
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has taken on a running challenge in memory of his dad who was killed on his way to work.
Harry Frear, a student at Christ Church Academy in Stone, has pledged to run 200km between January 28 and February 28 for a bereavement charity.
Harry’s dad, Sergeant Paul Frear, was just 45 when he died in September last year. He was on his way to work when a car hit him in Tollhouse Way, Smethwick. Paul was taken to hospital but died from his injuries.
The dad-of-two worked for West Midlands Police for 21 years, based in Wolverhampton.
Wife Kate Frear said Paul remained humble about his work, even when he was awarded a Chief Constable’s Bravery Award after providing life-saving first aid at the scene of a double stabbing in 2017.
Following Paul’s death, bereavement charity A Child of Mine stepped in to support his children, Harry and 10-year-old Rosie.
It was in November when Harry had the idea to take on a running challenge to give something back.
The fundraising target was set at £100 but so far, Harry has raised more than £3,400. The challenge was due to be carried out in January, but had to be postponed when a bacterial infection left Harry in hospital.
After recovering, he started the challenge on January 28, only to suffer another setback when he pulled a muscle. Now better, determined Harry is well on his way to completing the challenge on schedule.
Proud mum Kate, aged 42, knows Paul, right, would have been spurring Harry on. She said: “Paul would tell him to go for it. He’d say once you’ve decided to do something, you do it. Paul would be the first person Harry would want to tell.”
The father and son had a shared love of sports. Kate said: “Paul did a couple of half marathons and he liked cycling. Harry is good at cross-country running, he takes after his dad. They would often go out cycling together.”
Originally from Uttoxeter, Paul went to school at Thomas Alleyne’s. He studied business at Staffordshire University. He was working at Tesco Uttoxeter when he attended a careers fair and was drawn to the police.
Paul joined West Midlands Police in 2002. Kate said: “I was really proud of him joining the police. There were a lot of interview processes and fitness tests. He did it all.”
Paul went on to become a sergeant in 2007. Following his death, Rich Cooke, the chair of West Midlands Police Federation, paid tribute to Paul calling him a ‘lovely and supportive officer who had a ~great sense of humour’.
Kate heard about A Child of Mine the week after Paul’s death. She said: “The kids were a bit reluctant to go to anything to start with. But they got involved just before Christmas. “Both of the kids have been really brave. They’ve hardly missed any school. “Rosie has been supporting Harry with his running, encouraging him and making sure he does what he needs to do. “Harry is amazed at how much he’s raised. He’s overwhelmed. It’s getting to the point now where you can’t say thank you to everyone individually. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated for supporting Harry and the charity.” Well-wishers can join Harry for his final parkrun of the challenge today at Trentham Gardens. The free 5k event starts at 9am.