Family are cleaned out on way to charity relay
THIEVES broke into a car and stole charity money as well as items children had made in memory of their late grandmother.
Louise Small, 41, was left devastated when crooks cleaned out her Nissan Juke while she parked at Cheadle Sainsbury’s on the way to a Relay for Life event.
It was packed with supplies for the 24-hour cancer fundraiser as well as lanterns her son Alexander, 12, daughter Gabriella, eight, had made in honour of their gran.
These were all taken as were a selection of bras decorated in honour of those diagnosed with breast cancer and £120 of sponsorship cash.
Louise said: “We came back to the car and my daughter said, ‘where have all the bags gone?’. She was crying and I had to tell her that granny will still see her lantern.
“We were all that upset we thought about not doing the Relay for Life but then we thought we are not going to let them win. They scum.
“We tried our best to have a big smile and enjoy it but it felt a shadow was hanging over it.”
Louise, of Pilling Walk, Chadderton, had stopped at the Wilmslow Road store on her way to the event on Saturday, July 4, at around 1pm.
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She was inside less than 10 minutes to buy pillows for the event, which ran from midday on Saturday to midday on Sunday and involves camping out.
Her husband Michael, 40, and Alexander were already at the event at Kingsway School in Cheadle.
Michael, who is a teacher, lost his mum Judith Small to lung cancer three years ago when she was aged 63, so taking part had extra poignancy for the family.
They were part of a team called Show a Little Faith that has so far raised more than £4,000.
At least one member of the team must participate throughout the 24 hours and there are different laps dedicated to lost loved ones and breast cancer as well as other things.
Other items stolen from the car include a sat nav, food, clothes, wigs, wellies, glasses and make up.
Louise, a property coordinator, said: “A lot of the stuff was of no use or value to anyone else but it was still stolen.
“I was in shock then couldn’t stop crying.”
Police later confirmed that the incident had been reported to officers and was being investigated.