THE policeman shot in the face and blinded by fugitive gunman Raoul Moat has thrown his support behind a fundraising event for injured officers and servicemen.

PC David Rathband travelled to Billingham, Teesside, to meet the three Cleveland Police Officers who are running the equivalent of five marathons in five days. Detective Constables Simon Bage, Revis Phillips and Peter Littlewood, who are all based in Billingham, along with nurse Lynn Campbell and personal trainer Lyndsey Smith will run coast to coast from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth in just five days, between May 25 and May 29.

The team of five will be assisted by social worker, Kelly Smith, who will cycle behind the runners towing a trailer with a warning to motorists.

The officers are running to raise money for PC Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation which provides financial support for emergency services personnel injured in a criminal act while on duty, and also for Help for Heroes .

PC Rathband said: “It’s nice to see the police family working together to support our colleagues.”

To sponsor the runs or make a donation, visit wix.com/c2c555/coast2coast and follow the link to Just Giving.