The boy at the centre of our campaign to change organ donation laws has been left devastated after vandals wrecked his beloved bicycle.
Max Johnson, who had a heart transplant in 2017, used his £325 mountain bike to get to and from school.
The 12-year-old left it there when he became breathless during lessons and was sent home.
When he returned he found the back wheel had been stolen and the back brakes and chain wrecked.
His civil servant dad Paul, 47, said: “It is very disappointing as the bike gave him the independence to go to and from school with his friend.
“When we collected him that day we could not fit it in the car so we left it and it was damaged. He was very upset but after all he has been through he shrugged and I said ‘We will get it sorted’ which of course we will.”
Family friend Ben Ireson has set up a GoFundMe page to buy Max a new bike.
It has a link to the NHS profile which explains the work he did during our campaign for a new organ donor law.
Ben said of his pal: “Max’s beloved bike has been vandalised. After months of shielding, he loved cycling to school.”
Max’s mum Emma, 50, said at the family home in Winsford, Cheshire: “He was so very upset. His bike is his independence.
"It is really important to him. I am very grateful to everyone concerned for offering to help. It is so very kind.”
England’s new organ donor law came into force in May and is named in honour of the campaign’s “poster boy” Max and his heart donor, Keira Ball, nine.
It is predicted to save or transform hundreds of lives every year.
And it is already having an effect with the NHS reporting a record number of organ donations by the BAME community, and crediting the huge publicity around the new legislation.
To donate to Ben’s campaign to buy Max a new bike, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/max-johnson-new-bike
