Boost for injured officers

PC David Rathband's Blue Lamp Foundation has helped get injured Police Officers back on the beat by donating £60,000 to Police Treatment Centres.

The purposely designed Police Treatment Centres care for over 4000 officers every year offering intensive residential physiotherapy. Currently the charity which is largely funded
by police officers is bringing its Harrogate facilities up to modern standard at a cost of
£1m.

Kath Rathband, Patron and widow of David, hailed this donation as being a fitting tribute to David's vision of helping his colleagues and said: "The decision of the Foundation's Trustees to fund the refurbishment of these specialist bedrooms will provide a superb tribute in recognition of what David suffered in his own personal mobility challenges following the loss of his sight. We hope also that it will allow us to meet one of David's personal visions and objectives - to support his fellow Police Service colleagues who are in need. The latter challenge was particularly close to David. We are very proud to be able to provide this support to the Police Treatment Centres on David's behalf and in his memory."

Michael Baxter QPM and Chief Executive of the Police Treatment Centres said: 'The Blue Lamp Foundation's donation of £60,000 is a tremendous boost and we are enormously grateful to Kath Rathband for her wonderful support.'

Mr Baxter added :'The Home Office has given £500,000 and we have been fundraising ourselves, however, there is still a way to go and we would welcome any further support from any other sources.'