Aldi staff chip-in to buy new bike for seven-year-old Kasie after thieves stole hers from outside shop

Seven year-old Kasie Williams is a pupil at Holy Trinity Academy in her home town of South Shields. But since lockdown she and her mam, Louise Ballantyne, have been living with a friend on Sunderland’s Hylton Road.

They have become regular customers at Aldi on St Mark’s Road, where the staff keep a special eye out for Kasie.

It was while they were in the store on May 23 that the bike was stolen as it sat just inside the building. Kasie was distraught. She had owned the second-hand wheels for just three days and had only popped into the shop with Louise to buy a birthday card for her dad, Martin.

Staff were heartbroken to see little Kasie so upset and they had a whip-round and bought her a better, brand new model, a BMX Eclipse, which they then presented to her the next time she visited.

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/how-sunderlands-pub-and-club-scene-looked-early-1990s-remember-these-2866385

The new bike was a complete surprise to both Kasie and Louise.

Louise said: “I couldn’t believe it. I was over the moon. I’d only just bought the other bike. She needed a bike because her other one was taken by the scrapman.

“We weren’t in there long. A boy had taken it and I rang the police. She’d only been on it once or twice. It just needed a few repairs.

“They always treat her in Aldi. She got an Easter egg from them. She’s like one of the staff in there!

“We didn’t expect to walk back in and be given a bike. All the staff came out to give her the bike. I was in tears. The staff in there are all fantastic.”

Kasie was thrilled and very grateful to receive the new bike.

She said: “I was thinking ‘Is that bike just for me?’

“I like the beautiful colours on it and how fast I can ride it. And it’s brand new. It’s much, much better than the other one.”

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