Golden bikes placed around a Fife town in memory of a tot lost to cancer have been stolen, causing further anguish for her heartbroken mother.
Megan Clarkson was approaching her third birthday when she died of a rare form of lung cancer in January, just three weeks after being diagnosed.
To mark the Glow Gold September campaign Megan’s mother Kelly arranged for spray-painted children’s bikes, scooters and trikes to be placed around their home town of Kirkcaldy to help raise awareness of childhood cancer.
But several bikes, which have signs explaining their significance, have gone missing.
Kelly said she was not surprised when one scooter went missing from Beveridge Park but was distraught to find more have been taken since.
She said: “We shouldn’t need to chain these things up for them to be left alone.
“I used cable ties so they wouldn’t move in the wind and as a basic security function.
“The very nature of what they are for should mean that respect is given to them and to everyone supporting our cause.
“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement.”
Since Megan’s death Kelly, husband Martyn, their family, friends and supporters have raised money in her name for Ronald McDonald House, The Teapot Trust and play services at Victoria Hospital, which supported them during Megan’s illness.
As bikes are often left unused when a child is undergoing treatment for cancer, Kelly decided golden bikes around the town would be a poignant reminder of the impact of the disease.
She appealed for donations of bikes which were painted by Bodywyse Autocare.
They were placed at locations around Kirkcaldy, including the War Memorial Gardens, Ravenscraig Park, the Esplanade and High Street.
Glow Gold September raises awareness of childhood cancer, of which there are 10 new diagnoses in the UK every day.
It has seen iconic buildings illuminated in gold, including Edinburgh Castle and the Kelpies.
