Red Aid present young boy with new kindle after theft

Red Aid, a charity which helps children with disabilities in Rochdale, has presented Redwood Secondary School pupil Damon Geraghty with a new Kindle to replace one that was stolen from him whilst on a trip to Manchester.

Damon, 17, from Rochdale, has Muscular Dystrophy which means that he is wheelchair bound and can only move his hands, fingers and head.

Whilst on a day trip to Manchester to spot trains and trams with his brother Ben and grandfather James, a mugger grabbed Damon’s rucksack from behind him, as the family were on the way to Piccadilly Station.

The rucksack, which was on the back of Damon’s wheelchair, contained a Thomas the Tank Engine blanket, which Damon carried everywhere with him, and his Kindle.

It is understood that James and a passer-by attempted to catch the thief, who stole the rucksack on Sunday 7 June at around 4.45pm, but could not find him.

Mark Dale, from Red Aid, said: “When we heard what had happened, we volunteered to buy him a new Kindle and I think a lot of other people did the same.

“He absolutely loved the new Kindle when we gave it to him. He is excited that he can now watch train videos and things again because he absolutely loves trains.”

Marketing company Up Global has also donated a new designer bag to Damon to replace the one that was stolen.

Red Aid is a charity that provides the relief of children aged up to 19, who have a learning disability including their families and carers in Rochdale and its surroundings, by providing such assistance as the trustees in their absolute discretion deem appropriate, above and beyond that which is provided on the national curriculum.