82-year-old March man Dennis Pope’s faith in humanity restored after community comes together following mobility scooter theft

Community spirit shone through when three businesses came together to help an elderly man after the theft of the mobility scooter he relies on.

March resident Dennis Pope, who has terminal cancer, was left “devastated” after his brand new scooter was stolen from the town's railway station a couple of weeks ago, but with the help of the businesses, he was not left long without one.

The 82-year-old often pulls up outside Southpaw Boxing Club on Acre Lane in March to have a little punch on the bag outside the venue.

However, one particular morning, Jimmy Addis, the owner of the club, saw Dennis walking to the club and noticed something was wrong; that's when he discovered the scooter had been stolen.

With the help of his social media platforms, Jimmy was able to find out more information regarding the scooter and was led to a nature reserve on Norwood Road in March.

Jimmy shut up his boxing club, and the pair got into his car and headed to the location, where they discovered the scooter smashed into dozens of pieces.

Dennis said: “It really hurt to see my brand new scooter in all of these pieces in the nature reserve.”

After discovering the scooter, Jimmy took Dennis back home and contacted Aaron's Mobile Mobility Maintenance, who provided the pensioner with a second-hand temporary one for free.

Aaron then contacted Cambridge Mobility, who kindly sold Dennis a brand-new scooter at cost price.

Aaron said: “We teamed up with Cambridge Mobility to supply us with a new Galaxy 2 mobility scooter at cost. We saved Dennis more than £1,500 on the price of his new one compared to his one that was stolen.

“When companies work together, great things happen. Big shout out to Southpaw's for raising the original issue.”

Dennis said: “I could not believe this. Three people coming forward like this. It is the kindness of it, after the invasion of being robbed when you are old.”

“It restores your faith in humanity, it is so wonderful.”