Police escort for VIP prom guest
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Eden Lewis from Blackwood was taken to her school prom in a convoy of officers.
Caerphilly officers helped to make a 16-year-old girl’s dreams come true by providing a police escort to her school prom.
Eden Lewis was diagnosed in July 2020 with osteosarcoma, a form of cancer, in her right thigh that had spread to her lungs.
Over the next two years, Eden courageously fought against the cancer, from surgeries to remove tumours to total knee and hip replacements as well as multiple rounds of chemotherapy.
But in earlier this year 2022, Eden and her family were told that her cancer is terminal, leaving her with a few months to live.
Eden continues to be strong and lives life to the fullest, taking her GCSEs and applying to study animal care at Usk College.
Her dream career was to work as a dog handler for the police and explained to charity Dreams & Wishes that she would love to be escorted to her prom by a team of officers.
Officers from the Caerphilly central neighbourhood policing team and road policing and specialist operations unit were more than happy to oblige with Eden’s wish.
Several officers, along with retired PD Charlie and retired PD Wasp met with Eden at her home near Blackwood before escorting her in her chosen car, a lime green Ford Mustang to prom.
Travelling in convoy, they arrived in style to her school prom at Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel & Spa.
Eden’s mother, Tess Lewis said:
“Eden is absolutely speechless still, she was blown away. She’s so thankful for the officers escorting her to prom and making a nerve-wracking journey fun and exciting.
“I’m so thankful to the officers for taking time out of their day to help escort Eden to prom, and also for taking time beforehand talking to Eden and her brother and sister, showing them the vehicles and dogs.
“They made an emotional moment so much more special.”
Inspector Matthew Havard, who helped organise the police escort said:
“We were honoured when Dreams & Wishes asked us to be a part of making Eden’s wish come true, and we’re glad we could help make this special occasion memorable for Eden and her family.”
Chairman and founder of Dreams & Wishes, Tony Curtis MBE, said:
“A huge thank you to Gwent Police to help fulfil the dreams of a young girl, without them this wouldn’t have been possible.”