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Alan Barnes: Disabled mugging victim fund reaches £80k in two days | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than £80,000 has been donated in two days to help a disabled pensioner who was mugged outside his home. | |
Alan Barnes, 67, was left too afraid to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead after the attack on Sunday. | Alan Barnes, 67, was left too afraid to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead after the attack on Sunday. |
Mr Barnes, who is visually impaired, broke his collarbone when he was pushed to the ground. | |
Following reports of the attack, which police described as "disgraceful", the Help Alan Barnes online donation page was created on the Go Fund Me site. | Following reports of the attack, which police described as "disgraceful", the Help Alan Barnes online donation page was created on the Go Fund Me site. |
Beautician Katie Cutler, who set up the page, said it showed "there are so many lovely people out there". | |
"Not just people in the North East, but we've had people donating from Canada, Holland, down south, the USA, New Zealand. | |
"This person that hurt Alan, is just a minority." | |
Mr Barnes said it was "just unbelievable". | |
"I've heard of fundraising for charities but I've only got a fractured collarbone, I didn't expect that sort of response," he said. | |
"Thank you doesn't really seem to answer it, does it?" | |
Ms Cutler's aim was to raise £500, but that was quickly passed and by 10:20 GMT on Saturday, it had reached £82,083, with more than 6,000 people contributing. | |
Ms Cutler said she was "over the moon" and could not believe people's generosity. | |
There had also been offers of practical help from plumbers, electricians, bathroom and kitchen fitters, carpet layers and people donating furniture. | |
Mr Barnes has lived with disabilities from birth after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant. | |
Ms Cutler will meet him for the first time and will discuss what to do with the funds on Sunday. |