Last updated at 18:22, Sunday, 16 December 2012

IN the true spirit of Christmas the Furness community has rallied together to right a wrong following a heartless crime.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

The public was sickened to hear that the beloved bike of a disabled youngster had been stolen.

The £650 bike was made especially for 11-year-old Harrison Holmes, who has cerebral palsy, as a Christmas present last year.

As a baby the plucky lad fought off the potentially fatal disseminated intravascular coagulation, heart complications, chronic lung disease and septicaemia.

The community has been quick to act to help replace the bike for inspirational Harrison.

Various donations have been made, including £150 from staff at Tritech International, where Harrison’s brother, Jake Holmes, is a technician.

The collection was arranged by Jo-anne Dow at the Ulverston company, and since then Tritech has offered to make up the remainder so the bike can hopefully arrive in time for Christmas.

Harrison’s cousin, Lynsey Johnson, said: “We would all like to say a massive thank-you to everyone that has been donating and worked so hard for this to happen, you are all amazing and without you this would not have happened, the community spirit has really come through.”

Miss Johnson, 26, of Barrow, said a gig at the Tally Ho on December 22 is still going ahead to raise money for other children who need equipment, and a charity is being set up.

She said: “We have been so overwhelmed by the support and kindness of our local community that we are going to start a charity doing this permanently for other children who need mobility aids whose families cannot afford to provide them as they come at high costs. The slogan for the charity is going to be ‘For The Love Of Harrison’.”

Harrison’s mum, Joanne Holmes, added: “The way people have rallied round has shown real community spirit and it’s made something bad become something really special.”

Gordon Atkinson, site manager at Tritech International, in Ulverston, said: “Everyone at Tritech International was shocked and disgusted to hear that Harrison’s bike had been stolen. The company would like to support the staff in raising money by donating the remainder of the money to Help Harrison get his bike as soon as possible.”

First published at 16:52, Friday, 14 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk