Founder of appeal page for robbed OAP thanks public for “fantastic” response

Kind-hearted Keeley Smith launched a fundraising appeal after she heard how the 89-year-old woman had been targeted on Roughwood Road, Rockingham last Tuesday (November 17) by a thief who stole her handbag.

The elderly woman also suffered a broken arm and banged her head in the incident, over which a woman has been charged.

Keeley (34), from Kimberworth, started a Go Fund Me page to help support the elderly lady — and has so far raised £1,650.

“I just wanted to do something to help,” said the Asda manager.

“Seeing how much money has been raised is fantastic  — I am completely overwhelmed.

“It just shows how important community spirit really is and this will make such a difference to the lady’s life.”

Keeley said she had wanted to help after recently losing her own grandmother.

“It won’t ease the pain the lady is going to be in, but it will help to replace her glasses and give her back her pension money,” she said.

“It may also restore her some faith in human kind again.”

Other members of the community have also come together in their own ways to support the pensioner.

Louise Docherty and Shannon Elvidge set up their own Go Fund Me, which has raised more than £230 so far.

The incident happened near their house and went to help the victim until emergency services arrived.  

Business owner Scott Bundy (40), has donated £300 after hearing about the horrifying incident.

He said: “Our business has been doing really well during lockdown, so after reading about what happened, I wanted to help.

“I’m not a bag fan of fundraising pages, so I wanted to give a straight sum of £300 as a way of giving back to someone in the community.”

Scott, who runs scrap metal recycling and removals firm Junksterz, said he had a connection through work with Parkgate Mobility and had approached them to see if they could also help.

Owner Steve Holland said “Yes” straight away and has given the elderly lady a four-wheel walker, similar to the one she lost in the robbery, free of charge.

The injured OAP, who has not been named, is said to now be recovering from her injuries at home.

A 31-year-old woman has since been arrested in connection with the incident and charged with robbery.

Kirsty Moxon, of Whitegate Walk, Rockingham, will appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on December 17.

She has been remanded in custody.

Visit: https://bit.ly/3fw89sc to make a donationn to Keeley’s page.