Carjack ordeal leads to flood of donations

TOUCHED by kindness . . . Dorothy Cooper

THE Royton community has rallied round to raise money for a 76-year-old woman who was mowed down by a carjacker last month.

The Chronicle reported how Dorothy Cooper was run down in a car park off Sandy Lane and suffered double spinal fractures and pelvic injuries.

The thief alerted her to a non-existent fault with her white Hyundai i10 in the car park, before stealing it as she got out to check. He then struck ­ her with the car and drove over her as he sped off.

The vehicle was recovered in Buersil Avenue near the Turf Hill area of Rochdale. Mrs Cooper is now recovering at a hospital in Wigan.

Police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of assault.

Since then, a Just Giving page and donations made via the I Love Royton Facebook page have raised £800 towards Mrs Cooper’s recovery.

Business have also rallied round to donate goods and services for Mrs Cooper once she is back home.

Her grandson Matthew Cooper (27), a builder from Springhead, said of those who have come forward to help: “It’s brilliant. They deserve recognition. I wasn’t expecting this.

“My grandma is still in Wigan. She had to go to a specialist to have her pelvis operated on. There was internal bleeding and three fractures on her pelvis, which she had to have plated and screwed.

“There were spinal injuries and lots of cuts and bruises. Considering what happened, she could be a lot worse.

“When I told her about the fundraising, she said it was incredible.

“She can’t believe the kindness of people. Obviously it doesn’t change what’s happened but it’s a lovely gesture. It shows there’s good in the community.”

Mrs Cooper’s brother, Geoff Haimes, wrote on the I Love Royton page that he had come all the way from Canada after the accident.

He posted: “I am blown away by the generosity and compassion of the shopkeepers and the very generous contributions to her fund. On her behalf I thank you all for that and the kind messages and support she received.”

Arshad Mahmood, who owns Premier Discount Foods and Your Local Discount Store in Royton precinct, raised more than £400 at his stores.

He said: “It was a joint effort with I Love Royton. I’m very grateful we have raised so much. When I first came to Royton I didn’t know anybody and everybody welcomed me as part of that community.

“This was all for a good cause.”