The ‘boys in blue’ are always there when in need, so the least we can do is return the favour through Run4Blue. The virtual race, which supports Police Legacy, is being bolstered on Saturday 27 May by an inaugural charity walk in memory of 23-year-old AFP officer, Brad Hardy.
The well-respected Canberran, who enlisted in the police force with his older brother Josh, was passionate about the AFP and wanted to see the country, working in Alice Springs with protective services to work at Pine Gap. One day in 2021, Brad didn’t make it home for his brother’s 21st birthday and it was then that AFP Police Legacy came to the fore.
Brad’s mum Sharon says AFP Welfare helped to organise the trip to South Australia “so we could bring our boy home”.
“Once in Canberra, they paid their respects by providing a guard of honour where hundreds of AFP Officers lined the streets, saluting him,” Sharon says. “They were with us every day, they basically helped us with everything. They honoured him when he was put on a plane, they brought us dinner when we got home late from Adelaide. They were very supportive of our welfare.”
Brad proudly served for three years and he had just been accepted in the AFP canine program when he lost his life.
“Brad was loved by everyone who knew him,” Sharon says. “He was kind and caring and was always there when someone needed support or help. AFP legacy and AFP welfare provided our family with invaluable support and helped us through the most unbearable days and weeks. We cannot imagine how we would’ve gotten through those dark times without them.”
The Brad Hardy Foundation Walk will kick off with a relay between AFP Officers, AFP Protective Service Officers, AFP recruits and a Brad Hardy team. Merchandise is for sale and a raffle.
“We’d love the Canberra Community to support this event, to thank our AFP Officers for their continuous work in our community, while also remembering Brad and other fallen AFP Officers.”
Brad Hardy Foundation Walk, Kings Park, Lake Burley Griffin, Saturday 27 May at 10am. http://trybooking.com/CFKBU
