Manitoba

Funds raised in 2 hours to replace trike stolen from disabled Winnipeg man

A GoFundMe campaign started Friday morning raised $3,500 in just two hours to replace the specialized trike stolen from Sukhjit Johal.

$3,500 raised to replace trike stolen in July

$3,500 was raised in just two hours to replace the specialized trike stolen from Sukhjit Johal. (Winnipeg Police Service)

A Winnipeg man will be able to order a replacement trike after 77 people donated to a GoFundMe campaign Friday morning.

Sukhjit Johal sent out a plea for the return of his specialized trike Thursday at a press conference along with Winnipeg police.

"It was just painful, terrible," he said of his reaction when the trike was stolen from his attached garage in Amber Trails on July 20.

"I was just so sad. I was just thinking, what am I going to do without that bike?"

Chrissy Troy of Virgin Radio set up the fundraiser Friday morning with a goal of raising $3,500 to replace the trike, which cost $3,000 to buy six years ago.

Less than two hours later, the fundraising goal was met.

Johal said his disability is from polio and he used the trike to join his family on walks and attend his kids' soccer games. 

He said the trike would be useless to thieves, since no one could use the trike but him.

"When they do customize these bikes, they customize according to your body weight, your length, your arm length, your legs. They design it specially for your disability."

Winnipeg police applauded the fundraiser but said they would continue to try to find the trike.