Public rally round after boy robbed
ARUNCORN mum whose young sons were robbed at knifepoint has thanked a member of the public who launched a fundraising campaign to replace the a bike stolen during the shocking incident.
Big-hearted Jamie Galloway set up the online appeal after a suspected teenage hoodlum struck in the subway by Palacefields shops in Runcorn on Friday morning, brandishing a knife at Max Johnson, 11, and his little brother Leon Johnson, nine.
At time of writing, residents had rallied to support the youngsters and had donated £415, smashing the appeals £365 target, intended to replace Max’s bike and kit Leon out with a bike of his own.
The boys’ mother Jenny Josse has now thanked Jamie Galloway and the public who chipped in to show their support, adding that the boys were ‘coping really well’.
She told the Weekly News: “I didn’t know this guy until Saturday.
“He’s done this totally off his own back and without even knowing us as a family, we can’t thank him enough.”
She added: “He’s been amazing, (I) can’t thank him enough for what he’s done.
“Even the (Runcorn) Linnets have invited the boys to their next home match as VIP guests of honour.
“This community has really shown us as a family there are so many more good people out there.
“The messages of support have been amazing.”
Jenny said the incident has left her stunned at the knife crime problem.
She said: “I hope action is taken but from my point of view the police are fighting a losing battle.
“There’s not enough of them to cope with it all, they’re stretched to the limits with very little resources and until something like this happens people are ignorant to it like I was.
“I’ve been through every emotion possible thinking about my boys and what they went through but so glad it wasn’t any worse and nobody was hurt.
“But that lad is still walking our streets with a knife and as a mum of five I am terrified what world my children are growing up in.”
Jamie Galloway, who set up the justgiving.com appeal, said he wanted to buy each of the brothers a bike.
The two boys, aged 11 and nine, were robbed at knifepoint in a subway near Palacefields shops at 10.50am on Friday, November 1, triggering widespread shock.
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Cheshire police said the culprit was believed to have been around 15-16 years old.
Ward councillor and policing panel member Cllr Dave Thompson has revealed that councillors have been calling for the subway to be blocked up.
Residents have been keen to support the family.
Writing on the online appeal, one anonymous donor said: “I am a pensioner from murdishaw I hope this helps those two boys get new bikes.”
Dee Hambleton said: “Disgusting what’s happened to them I really hope the scum is caught.”
Donate online at www. justgiving.com by searching for ‘We’ve raised £415 to To help get 2 young brothers, aged 11 & 9, a new bike each after they were robbed at knife point in Palacefields, Runcorn on 1st Nov 2019’.