Bury St Edmunds community raises more than £700 for pensioner attacked and robbed in Tennyson Road
A Bury St Edmunds community has raised more than £700 to support an 82-year-old woman who was attacked and robbed.
The pensioner was on her way home after withdrawing money from Lake Avenue Store and Post Office last Thursday just before 12.40pm when a man assaulted her and stole her handbag containing bank cards and cash in Tennyson Road.
The woman fell and was left shaken with cuts and bruises. She was taken to West Suffolk Hospital and two men have since been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
In the aftermath of the attack, residents on the Mildenhall Road estate launched a collection at the Lake Avenue Store and Post Office to help her redeem lost funds and buy her some flowers.
In a Facebook post yesterday, the store revealed the collection had so far raised £735.18 which included three large donations of more than £100 each.
The post said: "What an amazing response it’s been by the community, I’m sure she will be overwhelmed and hopefully will help lift her spirits."
It added that the pot would be left out for the remainder of yesterday.
A separate online Go Fund Me page was also set up to raise funds for her.
In a Facebook post on Sunday thanking the Mildenhall Road and Howard estates for their ‘fantastic support’, the woman’s daughter said: “Mum was so overwhelmed with the comments on fb which we have told her about.
“Thank you doesn’t seem enough.
"Mum is still in a lot of pain, black and blue from the bruises but the family are all taking good care of her.
"You are wonderful people and we love you all.”
- See today's Bury Free Press newspaper to read how, following the attack, four women have organised a ‘Good Neighbour Buddy System’, which has brought together a network of volunteers who will walk with elderly residents on the Mildenhall Road and Howard estates to shops, bus stops and errands.
