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Community rallies after teen's bike gets stolen

PHOTO. Supplied. Elizabeth Green.

In true Fort McMurray fashion, the community has rallied together.

On Aug. 8, 14-year-old Connor put his trust in two men to watch his bike while he ran into the mall.

His mom, Elizabeth Green said before he made it to the second entrance door, the men were gone with the bike.

After filing a police report, she posted to social media in hopes of getting more information about the men.

Within minutes, Green said Christine St-onge offered a $50 donation on behalf of McMurray Carpets.

“If it wasn’t me who offered the first $50 there would of been someone not too far behind getting it started. I was just doing what Fort McMurray does best, take care of each other.” said St-onge.

Green said she expected negative comments, but in the 200 comments on the post, most of them ended up being words support, including more individuals and businesses offering to donate.

Within those comments was Brett MacDonald, saying he was at SportChek and was going to buy Connor a new bike.

“He took it upon himself and went right to SportChek and started messaging me and he’s like ‘I’m prepared to buy Connor whatever bike he wants and started sending me pictures. I just couldn’t believe it.”

A man named Marty Frost was also among the comments making a donation and tagging local businesses to do the same.

Green, who is from Ontario, called the situation “magical” and said you don’t see things like this anywhere else.

“It restores everything. It restores your faith in humanity. It restores your sense of community. It’s just an amazing feeling.

Green explained that she’s had a “crazy” six years in Fort McMurray and this act of kindness from the community has trumped it all.

While she knew Connor was getting a new bike thanks to the community, it was a surprise for him when Frost and MacDonald walked through the door with the bike that same day.

She said it was a hard life lesson for Connor, but that he also learned that “the good can always outweigh the bad.”