Money Stolen from Father’s Christmas Display Honoring Son Who Died of Cancer
NEED TO KNOW
- Thieves stole a large sum of money from a charity Christmas display in Norfolk, England, on Monday, Dec. 8
- Tristan Cork, who named the charity after his late son, said the incident was “really disheartening”
- “It’s to remember Finnbar, but also for the community,” he said of the festive display
A father in England is in shock after a large sum of money was stolen from the Christmas display honoring his late son.
Between 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8, and 7:30 a.m. local time the next day, thieves targeted a wishing well in Hethersett, Norfolk, that Tristan Cork had displayed to raise money for Finnbar’s Force.
The charity, named after his son who died from a brain tumor in 2016, supports children who’ve been diagnosed with cancer.
“That money on a daily basis raises enough money for children to have therapy, play therapy, support for parents and siblings,” Cork, 43, told the BBC.
Tristan Cork / SWNS
The annual festive display in Park Green has had over $40,000 donated over the last five years, according to the Eastern Daily Press.
The wishing well was made by hand and decorated with help from volunteers.
“We start at the beginning of October and the switch-on is in November,” Cork told the outlet. “It’s to remember Finnbar but also for the community.”
The father emphasized that the display has been “loved by children in the neighborhood” ever since it was first set up in 2017.
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Norfolk Constabulary / SWNS
Following the recent theft, the wishing well was badly damaged.
“It costs us money to put the display on, it costs us money to buy lights,” Cork told the BBC. “It is really disheartening, really disappointing that someone from this community or further afield has just come here and done this to spoil our event.”
Norfolk police said in a news release that they are appealing to witnesses or anyone with doorbell camera footage amid their investigation into the theft.
Cork said he was initially “feeling quite down” after the incident and was unsure about continuing with the annual display. However, he’s received an outpouring of support from the local community.
“We’ve had offers from about four welders to fix the well, and a lot of offers to replace the cash,” he told the BBC. “We’ve got back now probably what’s been taken.”
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