Callous thieves have stolen a specially adapted pushchair belonging to a four-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who is preparing to undergo a life-changing operation.
The crooks made off with Bailey Walters-Lawrence’s £2,000 stroller after breaking into the shed at her home in Gorfield Place, Kilburn, over the weekend.
In a cruel twist the theft took place while the family was away at Disneyworld Paris on a trip organised by the Make A Wish Foundation to keep their spirits up.
Mel Walters-Lawrence, Bailey’s mother, has appealed for the return of the buggy named ‘Simba’.
She told the Times: “Bailey misses Simba, she’s annoyed as it was much more comfortable for her than having to use her walking frame, which isn’t ideal.
“It doesn’t look remotely like a normal buggy so whoever took it must have realised it was evidently for a disabled person.
“I can’t believe someone would steal her buggy. It’s so cruel.
“I appeal to anyone who sees it to contact us.”
Last month, the community hit the £30,000 target needed to pay for Bailey to have Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment thanks to generous donations and a host of fundraising events.
The two-month long fundraising mission named ‘Bailey’s Wish’ was launched after the family was told by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) that the funding for the procedure, which will help her to walk, was no longer available on the NHS.
However, Ms Walters-Lawrence has now been forced to raise a further £15,000 to pay for her daughter’s aftercare including physiotherapy sessions.
Ms Walters-Lawrence also fears she may be forced to pay for a replacement buggy if funding is not available from elsewhere.
She said: “I had to apply to Brent Council for a grant to buy it. I’m now in the process of finding out if I will have to pay for a new one out of my own pocket.
“I’m shocked and disgusted that someone would do this. Someone out there knows where it is, please return it to Bailey.”
Ms Walters-Lawrence has reported the theft to the police.
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
To donate to Bailey’s Wish visit justgiving.com/baileyswish/.
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