Lemon stand vandalised again
A physically challenged Nelson man is picking up the pieces after the honesty box for his lemon stand was broken into and destroyed for a fourth time.
Daniel Younghusband has been operating the stand, converted from an old improvised golf cart, for five years outside his home by Isel Park in Stoke. Younghusband, who is legally blind and suffers from a rare genetic disorder, uses the money he makes to help pay for food and grooming for his dog, Cassie.
On Wednesday, a witness saw three teenage boys make off with the stand into the park, breaking into the honesty box and taking the money. Younghusband said there was probably only about $10 in there at the time.
It was the second time this year his stand had been vandalised.
‘‘Generally, all the locals and people who do stop by are really good – I have even had some IOUs in there, and people pay the next day,’’ he said. ‘‘You just get the odd scoundrel.
‘‘It kind of makes me angry to think there’s people out there that would do that – it’s just disappointing, really.
‘‘This was the first time it’s disappeared [to Isel Park]. Other times, it’s been taken down by the water and broken up.
‘‘It’s frustrating. Those guys are fully able to go down to a supermarket and get a job, where I can’t physically do that.
‘‘I just don’t know why they do it. It’s not like it’s a lot of money.’’
While Younghusband has done his best to not let his disability get the best of him, in recent years his physical mobility has become more limited.
Along with Seckel syndrome, a rare inherited form of dwarfism, the 35-year-old is legally blind and suffers from type one diabetes. Despite this, he had been an active skier and cyclist, and gained a black belt in karate in 2011. He also operates a microbusiness selling paua jewellery.
Younghusband said he would continue operating the stand, which formed a big part of his daily routine.
‘‘I just wish somebody would catch them.’’