A Richmond paraplegic’s special needs handcycle was stolen from his porch over the weekend, and an effort is underway to either recover the expensive bike or raise funds for a new one.
The Lasher Sports handcycle was parked outside the front door of the resident’s condo in Marina Bay and it was double locked, according to the report. Sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, a thief or thieves managed to break the locks and steal the handcycle, worth $10,000.
A neighbor launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a new handcycle and notified the Standard in the hope that anyone who finds the hancycle will return it. The theft has been reported to police.
“My boyfriend is a passionate mountain biker. He is also paralyzed,” the victim’s girlfriend, Elizabeth Ramos, said in a notice posted to the GoFundMe account. “This specialized bike grants him the ability to do what he loves regardless of his disability. This is a devastating loss.”
Her neighbor, Adriana, added, “His girlfriend said it took a village to purchase the bike.”
“For those in the community who would like to contribute,” Adriana said, “We are asking not only for contributions to replace the bike but also for prayers for the thieves who have to resort to taking what does not belong to them. May their hearts be filled with remorse and new beginnings.”
