Two bikes stolen at his school worth over $4000 have crushed a 15-year-old Pakenham boy’s dream of completing the Duke of Edinburgh program.
The teen, who lives with autism and PTSD, needed to complete 13 hours of downhill mountain biking before he could receive his Duke of Edinburgh Award.
He was already facing enormous challenges, having spent 12 months recovering mentally after being violently attacked two years ago for his bike.
“These teens tackled him to the ground and repeatedly kicked him in the head to try and get the bike,” his mother recalled.
“He suffers from PTSD after being violently attacked for his bike 2 years ago. It took him 12 months to recover mentally and be able to get back on his bike.”
His first bike was stolen from Pakenham Secondary School in late May, just weeks after he received it as a birthday present.
It was a hard-earned gift, paid for by his single mother and full-time carer, who had worked tirelessly to support his mountain biking dream.
Police later recovered the bike after an arrest on 3 July, but the frame was so badly damaged it couldn’t be ridden.
Determined to keep going, his mum scraped together enough to replace the stolen $1200 bike.
Tragically, his replacement, a $2800 Merida One-Sixty 500, was stolen again at his school shed.
“This has not been recovered and police doubt it ever will be,” his mother said.
“He no longer felt safe to ride to school. The violation he feels from having two bikes stolen has triggered his PTSD.”
The back-to-back thefts have been devastating, both emotionally and financially.
“I have sacrificed time with my son over the years, working hard to provide for us both. I do not receive any benefits from Centrelink other than a carer payment.”
The teen has endured more than most boys his age.
“When my son was six, he witnessed me being assaulted by our next-door neighbour. We had to move quite quickly to escape that situation,” his mother recalled.
“Approximately 4 years ago our home was broken into via his bedroom window. He slept with a cricket bat for weeks after this incident. He was 11.
“2 years ago after moving into our forever home (I was finally able to buy a house using the government single parent scheme) he was attacked by two older teens for his bike, the big nine 100.”
Despite everything, he remains enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh program and still needs to complete 13 hours of downhill mountain biking.
His devastated grandmother has now launched a GoFundMe campaign to try and fund a third bike so he can keep working toward his goal.
“We desperately ask for assistance to fund a replacement asap. Downhill requires a specific calibre of bike which comes at a significant cost,” she said.
“Never did I think I would ever have the need to rely on the generosity of others but today I swallow my pride. Please, if you can help in any way it would be greatly appreciated.”
Victoria Police was approached for a comment.
To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/young-kids-dream-taken-away-by-thieves
