Halloween charity pot stolen from garden fundraiser in Woodley
- Published
The garden is raising money for BIBS, a special baby care charity
A man who decorates his garden on Halloween to raise money for charity has said he was left "gutted" after the collection pot was stolen.
Ronnie Goodberry, 63, set up the display in his garden in Woodley, Berkshire, to raise money for the special baby care unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) in Reading.
About £70 was taken on Saturday but has since been replenished by well-wishers on Facebook.
Police are appealing for information.
Mr Goodberry builds the Halloween garden every year, each time for a different charity.
Mr Goodberry said he was "gutted" when he realised what had happened
This year's cause was Babies in Buscot Support (BIBS). Buscot Ward is the special baby care unit at the RBH.
It offers information and support for families with premature or unwell babies, as well as funding life-saving technology such as incubators and resuscitation equipment.
The ward cared for two of Mr Goodberry's grandchildren two decades ago, including one who died - something he said made this year's display "even more poignant".
He said Saturday, four days after the garden opened to the public, was such a busy evening that no-one saw the charity collection pot go missing.
Mr Goodberry said he was "gutted" when he realised the money had been stolen.
"It's taken 12 hard days' work to get it up and running," he said.
"In two seconds flat, someone's destroyed it."
Mr Goodberry has not let the theft dampen his spirit
He said BIBS get no government support and desperately need donations like this.
The person who stole the money is "the lowest of the low", he added.
But Mr Goodberry posted about the theft on Facebook, resulting in an influx of donations that covered the stolen money.
And he has not let the incident dampen his spirit.
"We're up and running again," he said, adding: "You've just got to carry on."
"If you [complain], then they've won," he said.
"I refuse to let them win."
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