Crooks stole bike I used to raise cash for soldier (From Southend Standard)

Crooks stole bike I used to raise cash for soldier

12:00pm Friday 15th July 2011 in News

Beverley Harvey with the bike that was stolen from her home

A WOMAN who cycled almost 1,000 miles to raise cash towards a memorial for fallen soldiers has made an emotional plea for the return of her stolen bike.

Last May Beverley Harvey, 51, cycled from Lands End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland with friend David Pitt to raise more than £10,000 towards a memorial for family friend Lt Aaron Lewis, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008.

Mrs Harvey was planning to ride from Rome to London later this year, but on July 2, burglars struck and stole her beloved bike.

Mrs Harvey, of Trinity Wood Road, Hockley, said: “It’s not so much the bike and what it cost, but what the ride and the bike mean to me emotionally.

“I know it’s unlikely that someone will give it back, but I’d be willing to pay a reward. It has real emotional value and I was devastated when it was taken. If it ever does materialise I would be so grateful to see it again.”

The mum-of-six, whose eldest sons Lewis, 28, and Elliott, 26, played rugby with Lt Lewis, handed the money raised to the 29 Commando Regiment memorial, which was unveiled outside the Royal Citadel in Plymouth, where Lt Lewis was based, in January.

Mrs Harvey said: “We weren’t cyclists but we wanted to do something for Aaron and help put money towards the memorial.”

Mrs Harvey believes the culprits had been watching the house, and knew what they were looking for when they broke into a cottage annex in the garden and took her black and turquoise Bianchi road bike, worth £4,000, and her husband’s bike, but left the other items in the cottage untouched.

Mrs Harvey’s bike has a black 52cm carbon frame, with turquoise wrapping on the handlebars. It has the word Bianchi written on the frame and has a white saddle.

The other bike is a burgundy red Kona DDE Luxe, and the annex was broken into between 8am on July 2 and 8am on July 3.

Anyone with information about the burglary and the whereabouts of Mrs Harvey’s bike should call Rayleigh police on 0300 3334444.