Vile theft appals cancer families
When Mike Stevens’ mum Judy died of blood cancer on October 13, anger is the last emotion he thought he would feel.
But sorrow turned to fury the next day when a paint bucket containing more than $2000 collected for two Lower Hutt families affected by cancer, including his own, was stolen from the Fitzroy Tavern in Wainuiomata.
The cash was taken after an all-day fundraising event for the families and the Wellington Blood and Cancer Centre.
Stevens was unable to comprehend the lack of compassion of whoever stole the bucket, which had been stored in the hotel’s back office.
‘‘They have to be the lowest of the low. I don’t know how they’re sleeping at night.’’
The theft, which had been reported to the police, was a ‘‘kick in the guts’’ to all the volunteers who had helped organise and run the day, and the Wainuiomata community who had turned out to support the cause.
The event had featured a car and bike show, barbecue, raffles and an auction.
‘‘The support was awesome.
We had more than 50 vehicles register, people were donating throughout the day and some local businesses had donated some really nice stuff.’’
Stevens had spent months helping to organise the event and his family’s share of the proceeds had initially been intended to help make his mum as comfortable as possible in her battle with myeloma.
He had planned to spend the day at the event but his mother died the day before and he instead went to be with family in Wairarapa.
About $3000 was raised through the event despite the theft.
With a much smaller pot left to split between the families and the hospital, the other family offered the proceeds to the Stevens.
Uncomfortable with keeping the cash, Stevens bought two Lay-Z-Boy chairs with the money. They were to be donated to Wellington Hospital’s Blood and Cancer Centre.
‘‘It felt like dirty money.’’ He was angry and frustrated at the situation and his family had been struggling to make sense of what had happened.
He said he could not stop thinking about the ‘‘filthy’’ crime and his children had been asking every day if any new information had come to light about the theft.
It had been a rough month.
‘‘We put my mate [who also died of cancer] in the ground on the Thursday, then my mum [died] on the Friday and to top it all off, we had to put the dog down on Saturday. It’s been a real s... of a month.’’
He said there were probably more people that had been affected in some way by cancer than those who had not and if the thief or thieves had any conscience, they would return the money.
He urged anyone with information about the theft, or who had seen anything suspicious, to contact the police.