A kind-hearted Courier reader dug into her own pocket after reading a tragic story that mirrored her disabled grandson’s plight.
Catherine Matheson, from Forfar, said she was ”shocked and disgusted” to discover a housebreaker stole £50 from a charity appeal intended to send terminally-ill Arbroath man Daniel Mathieson (22) to Disneyworld in Florida.
After learning Daniel suffered from the same form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy as her own eight-year-old grandson, Catherine took the decision to replace the stolen sum.
She sent a cheque to The Courier to go towards the Daniel’s Dream fund, which now stands at around £4,500.
”I was shocked and disgusted to learn via The Courier about the theft of £50 that was to go to the Daniel’s Dream appeal,” Catherine said. ”My grandson, for whom I am the carer, is almost nine and he also suffers from this dreadful condition.
”We took him to Disneyworld in May and he had a great time and I therefore wanted to donate £50 to replace the stolen money.”
Thief Shaun Lovie (30), was jailed for six months at Arbroath Sheriff Court after breaking into an address in St Thomas Crescent on August 14, taking a charity box containing £50 that was destined for the holiday fund.
He has previously stolen from his own parents and was high on drugs at the time, despite just having been sentenced to community service on another matter.
Over the last two years, the Mathieson family have suffered the tragic loss of Daniel’s brothers John and James, both of whom succumbed to the same muscle-wasting disease.
Daniel’s father Norman is now determined to give his only remaining son the holiday of a lifetime while he still has time left.
Norman said was delighted to accept Catherine’s donation, adding the family had received fantastic support from across Angus.
”It has been really good and we have a had a lot of support from shops on the high street.
”We have been going around the pubs collecting money in buckets and we have held a car wash, a car boot sale and we have got a wax-a-thon in Montrose next month.
”I would like to say a big thank-you to every person involved it has been a lot of work.”
The latest fundraiser was held at the British Legion Hall in Arbroath on Tuesday night, with all money raised from a medium night going towards Daniel’s trip.
Flying out on December 11 the Mathiesons, including Daniel’s mother Yvonne and sister Claire, plan to spend nearly a month in America, returning home on January 9.
The cost of flights and accommodation is £10,000 and Norman estimates they will need to find thousands more for expenses.
A keen Celtic supporter, Daniel was at Parkhead in Glasgow on Wednesday for the club’s Champions League qualifying tie against Helsingborgs.
He was given VIP treatment and allowed into a private box area of the ground.