Community rallies round to raise hundreds for nurse whose bike was stolen outside hospital

Hundreds of pounds has been raised by kind-hearted members of the community to help a nurse whose bike was stolen while she was working a 13-hour-shift.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She had only bought the bike a few weeks earlier – a gift to herself with her first paycheck from the NHS.

Lily Richardson has received a brand new bike from medical accountancy from BW Medical.Lily Richardson has received a brand new bike from medical accountancy from BW Medical.
Lily Richardson has received a brand new bike from medical accountancy from BW Medical.

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jarrow 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.

Student nurse, Lily Richardson has her bike stolen from outside the RVI in Newcastle.Student nurse, Lily Richardson has her bike stolen from outside the RVI in Newcastle.
Student nurse, Lily Richardson has her bike stolen from outside the RVI in Newcastle.

“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.”

Read More
South Shields pensioner, 84, devastated as thug stole his bike from Asda car par...
She bought the bike with her first paycheck from the NHS.She bought the bike with her first paycheck from the NHS.
She bought the bike with her first paycheck from the NHS.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Northumbria 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.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.

Related topics: