‘Wheeling’ comfortably into 2018 thanks to Ben Fund and PDT

Retired officer, Elizabeth Dixon has taken delivery of her new Ottobock Juvo B5, thanks to WMP Benevolent Fund and the Police Dependents Trust.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Juvo B5 is an android from the latest Star Wars movie! In fact it’s the latest electric powered wheelchair, promising Ben Fund member, Elizabeth better mobility as she ‘wheels’ into the New Year.

Elizabeth, known as Liz by her former West Midlands Police colleagues, was the first female dog handler in the Force as well as the country, until a RTC, whilst on duty, tragically cut her career short.

Elizabeth with PD Czar

“I’d been working at Digbeth police station for a few years since my police dog, Czar, retired. On the morning of my accident, Saturday 1 March 1986, I assisted CID officers to collect a female from Erdington police station.  Returning on the Aston Expressway and travelling towards the city centre, a motor vehicle coming towards us lost control in the icy conditions, spun round and we hit the side of the car head-on.  I was in the front passenger seat and was trapped inside our vehicle for some time after the impact. I have no memory of the RTC after that.”

Elizabeth’s accident left her Tetraplegic and earlier this year she was diagnosed with a severe cardiac condition. It quickly became apparent that her old chair could no longer provide Elizabeth with the level of comfort and functionality she now needed.

The cost, however, to upgrade to a modern mobility chair was too much for Elizabeth so she turned to the Benevolent Fund for help.

“From the moment, I contacted the Benevolent Fund the route to receiving the grant was very easy.  The full grant amount was possible by the additional support of the Police Dependents Trust.

“So, thank you again for this grant and the continual support that WMP Benevolent Fund has given me over the many years since I was injured in 1986.  I am truly thankful.”

Thanks to the kind support from the Police Dependants’ Trust (PDT) who matched the Benevolent Fund’s grant, Elizabeth was able to purchase her new chair.

“A new wheelchair is similar to purchasing a new car but obviously needs adjusting to your personal needs and specification. My new chair is amazing, very modern with Bluetooth as standard. After ‘wheeling’ for nearly 50km since handover it’s the most comfortable wheelchair I have ever had!”

Elizabeth with her new Ottobock Juvo B5 wheelchair