Paralysed ‘robocop’ presented with Israeli suit allowing her to walk again
Former British police officer Nicki Donnelly, who is paralysed from the chest down, has been given the ability to move again thanks to Israeli technology
Jack Mendel is the former Online Editor at the Jewish News.
An ex-police officer paralysed from the chest down wants to visit Israel so she can meet the inventor of a device that has allowed her to walk once more.
Nicki Donnelly was confined to a wheelchair after being seriously injured in the line of duty in 2009, but thanks to Israeli technology, she can independently move again.
Addressing an audience at the Community Security Trust (CST) on Tuesday night, the former West Midlands policewoman was presented with her personal ReWalk exoskeleton by sponsors, the Gerald Ronson Family Foundation and CST.
Speaking to Jewish News, Nicki, who started using the suit in April 2016, and who was moving independently in just seven weeks, paid tribute to the Israeli inventor, before thanking the Jewish community.
She said: “I’ve received a great awareness of the Jewish community. The more I tell the story about the Israeli inventor, who’s quadriplegic, the more it’s created an awareness that good technology comes from Israel.”
Nicki added: “It’s a number one goal to meet the Israeli inventor, Amit Goffer. I am truly grateful for his role in this.”
READ MORE:
- Unveiled: 10 emotive designs hoping to be UK’s Shoah memorial
- Anti-Semitism at highest level on record
- Protests planned for Netanyahu’s London visit next week
- Prince Charles at Yavneh: You’ll make a great contribution to the future of Britain
The ex-officer thanked Gerald Ronson, who is chairman of CST, and his family foundation, for supporting of her. She said: “they’ve given me my freedom of choice back. I’m known as the real-life Robocop!”
She said “I knew who CST were, as I was aware they work with different police forces, including West Midlands Police where I was based. I have a great appreciation of having that extra resource from the CST.”
Dave Rich of CST said: “We work with police officers every day. They put themselves at risk for all of us and all of the public and it could be any police officer who suffers that sort of injury. Our support for her is symbolic of our appreciation for every police officer and all that they do for all of us.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
