More than £2k raised for ‘thankful’ disabled Deliveroo rider left devastated after scooter is stolen

Bristol has answered a fundraising call for a well-known disabled Deliveroo rider who had his specially adapted scooter stolen and damaged.

Just seven hours after the launch of the GoFundMe page ‘Let’s help David to by a new adapted motorbike’ more than £2,200 had been raised by dozens of people, with some leaving messages wishing him back on the road soon.

The funderaiser was started after friends of David Cappalletti discovered the scooter adapted to take his motorised wheelchair badly damaged near the Bristol to Bath Railway Path in Staple Hill - just hours after it was stolen from his home near the M32 in Eastville.

Mr Cappalletti, aged 33, has worked in Bristol as a delivery rider for Deliveroo and Uber for almost three years, but without the scooter he is unable to work.

Friend Felipe Chagas, who is also a delivery rider, started the fundraising page in the hope £5,000 could be raised for not only a new scooter, but to cover Mr Cappalletti for while is unable to work.

Mr Chagas told BristolWorld: “It started this morning when David sent a message in our WhatsApp group with around 300 riders, asking us to look out for his scooter which had been stolen from his home.

“A few of the riders went out looking and found it destroyed in Staple Hill - he was upset and devastated, so we all decided to start something help to help him. It is amazing how quickly people have donated.”

He added: “I’ve spoken to him and he is very happy, very thankful for all the help - he just wants to be out working again, but instead he’s unable to do anything.”

As of Friday night, £2,299 had been raised from 119 donations, some as high as £500.

Jay Sharp donated £5, and said: “It’s not much but I’m a courier too. This is my tips from tonight. You deserve them more then me good luck mate.”

Susan Gregory said: “Who would do something like this? Hope you are back on the road soon.”

Anyone who wishes to donate can visit the page at here