Dream come true for hopeful police recruit who lost a leg to cancer (From Durham Times)
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Dream come true for hopeful police recruit who lost a leg to cancer
8:00am Friday 17th August 2012 in News
By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)
Keiran Maxwell, from Heighington, being given a tour of Durham Police's helicopter by PC Ross Green.
A TEENAGER who is refusing to let losing a leg to cancer thwart his dream of becoming a police officer was wide-eyed with amazement yesterday, when he spent a day with a North-East police force.
Kieran Maxwell, 14, was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive cancer, Ewings Sarcoma, in October 2010, and, following chemotherapy, had to have his left leg amputated below the knee in March 2011.
Last month, Britain’s biggest lottery winners, Colin and Chris Weir, from Ayrshire, in Scotland, pledged a five-figure donation from their £161m jackpot to buy Kieran a prosthetic leg.
Yesterday, the youngster, from Heighington , near Darlington, was shown around Durham Police HQ.
He sat on a police motorbike, saw the armed response vehicles, met some police dogs, learnt about crime scene investigation techniques and sat in the pilot’s seat of a police helicopter.
He also had lunch with Deputy Chief Constable Mike Barton.
Kieran said: “It’s been brilliant.
I’ve been really looking forward to it and it’s all been great.”
His mother, Nicola Maxwell, said: “He’s always wanted to be a police officer, ever since he was little. He’s over the moon. He’s never stopped smiling.”
Mr Barton said: “We’re delighted to have Kieran with us for the day. It’s fantastic to see a young person so interested in being a police officer and, after the incredibly difficult time Kieran and his family have been through, it’s the least we can do to show him around and let him spend some time with our officers.”
Kieran is due to attend the first fitting for his new prosthetic leg at the Dorset Orphopaedic Clinic, in Hampshire, on Thursday, when a cast will be taken.
The limb could be fitted within six weeks.
Kieran, who recently visited Disney World, in Florida, thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, is hoping to become a world champion acrogymnast.
He is due to compete in a regional contest in October. His family hopes to get him a prosthetic leg designed for gymnastics.
