An autistic teenager who had his bike stolen last week is all smiles today after being donated a bicycle he can ride until he gets his replacement wheels.
Jordan Rednall, 16, who is known as “the boy on the bike” where he lives in Ipswich, was left “distraught” after a gang of teenagers pushed him off his beloved Mongoose Thunderball bike on Sunday and rode away.Since news of the theft emerged, messages of support flooded social media and two crowdfunding pages to were set up to raise cash to replace his missing bike.
The total is now at almost £1,000.
On Wednesday, Jordan was handed a mountain bike by Ipswich man Max Turner, which brought a huge smile to Jordan’s face.
Jordan’s father John said he still plans to get his son a replacement Mongoose Thunderball bicycle, as Jordan, who has learning difficulties, ADHD and anxiety issues, is fixated on getting the same bike.
Mr Rednall thanked the pubic for their support and huge generosity.
He said: “It has gone way past what anybody thought it would do.
“I couldn’t believe what has happened since the theft.
“Everywhere we go we are spotted now with people wishing Jordan well.
“We will buy him the specific bike he had and whatever is left over we’ll donate to two charities that Jordan uses, the Saturday Club in Stowmarket and his disability athletics group in Ipswich.
“It is not going to just help him, but other people like Jordan.
“The bike is great and he has already been out on it lots since it arrived. But he knows it is not his bike.
“I can’t put it into words how kind everyone has been.
“95% of people who have donated have never met Jordan and don’t know him.”
Mr Turner said: “My wife and I had often seen Jordan around on the area we live in east Ipswich and he always looked like he was having the time of his life on his bike. We saw the story and were shocked straight away.
“I said to my wife we’ve got this bike just sitting in the garage and he can have that. It didn’t take much thinking about.
“When we handed over the bike he gave be a big high five, jumped on it and that was the last I saw of him.”
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