Gestures put Jack back on a bike

A teenager living with a brain tumour has thanked those who have helped him get back on his bike.

Jack Schweikhardt’s bike was stolen from Hall Place last month after he decided he felt well enough to head into town.
The 18-year-old, who has a benign brain tumour, was given the bike by dad Steve’s best friend Gordan Hyam, who died earlier this year from oesophageal cancer.
One man has been jailed for the theft, along with a string of other offences, but the bike has not been returned.
However the family have been touched just how many people have got in contact to offer support.
As well as a host of individuals, Pinchbeck Parish Council, the Spalding Round Table and Steve Timewell, with some of the Spalding Flower Parade funds, came forward to offer him a replacement or money to purchase a new one.
Now Steve and the Round Table have teamed up to share the cost of a new one for Jack who went to pick it up recently.
And the kind gestures kept coming as Halford’s guaranteed him free bike care for a year.
Jack has been using the bike to get out with friends when he can, particularly to visit Morrison’s.
“Thank you very much,” he said. “I’m very grateful and I think it’s so kind of them to buy me a new bike.”
Mum Jodie added: “We are so touched that so many offered to help.
“It’s heart-warming to know that, although there will always be some bad eggs, overall we live in a community of caring, kind and thoughtful people.
“Thank you too for all for the shares on the Facebook post about the stolen bike.
“It’s not nice for Jack that he’ll never see that very special bike again, I think he will always feel sad that it was taken.
“However, the response and two groups clubbing together to buy him a good, decent new bike has definitely put a smile on his face again, and I am so very grateful for that.”
Tom Bradshaw, of the Spalding Round Table, said: “Supporting the community with these sort of donations is key to Spalding Round Table.
“We aim to give back to and improve the local community as much as possible but none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for every sponsor and everybody that attended Spalding Festival in May.
“The festival is the area’s largest 100 per cent for charity beer and music festival.”
Steve said: “It is an honour to be able to help Jack with a contribution from the Flower Parade.
“When I started the Flower Parade I was quite clear that any surplus monies raised would be put back into the community in the form of good causes and I felt this was a just cause.
“The Flower Parade is funded by the community and local businesses and it’s only right that the money is spent locally wherever possible.”