Community rallies round to raise hundreds for nurse whose bike was stolen outside hospital
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Lily Richardson, of Donkins Street, Boldon colliery, was left devastated her brand new bike was stolen from outside the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, while she was caring for patients on the front-line.
On Monday, May 11, after working a 13-hour shift the 21-year-old student nurse went to collect her bike to discover that a thief had fled the scene with it earlier that day.
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Hide AdShe had only bought the bike a few weeks earlier – a gift to herself with her first paycheck from the NHS.
After reading Lily’s story, members of the community geared up to help and have now raised more than £500 to replace the bike.
Little did they know that good samaritans at medical accountancy firm BW Medical had already issued Lily with a brand new bike.
Instead, the money raised will go to one of Lily’s colleagues, who has also had her bike stolen from outside the hospital in recent weeks.
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Hide AdJarrow resident Steph Lawson, who set up the Go Fund Me page, said: “I just felt so bad when I read the story, it must have been awful for her.
“I couldn’t imagine coming out of work after a 13-hour shift and finding that your bike has gone.
“I’m over the moon that the money is now going to go to another nurse in the same situation.”
Steph added: “We hit the target within a few hours. It was a real team effort by the community and I just hope that it comes in useful for them in this challenging time.”
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Hide AdNorthumbria University - where Lily is studying in her final year - has also donated two bikes and locks to other NHS staff who have been victims of the same crime.
Lily commented: I’ve been overwhelmed by the response, I can’t put it into words.
“Other people have had their bikes stolen but haven’t spoken up and now because of everyone’s generosity they are going to have their bikes replaced too.”