9:26 am, January 8, 2018
A 73-YEAR-OLD couple who have cancer were given a very special Christmas gift, courtesy of police officers and a generous local car dealer.
Michael and Linda Gibbs, of Old Coulsdon near Croydon, were left without a car after their Austin Metro was stolen. Although the car was eventually found, it ultimately had to be crushed because it had been damaged so badly.
Big-hearted police in Croydon were so moved by the couple’s plight that they decided to take action and created a JustGiving page to help them get another car.
However, when they approached Onodi Car Sales of West Wickham to ask about a vehicle to buy for the couple, dealership owner James Onodi elected to join the force in their generosity.
He decided that instead of the car the police had inquired about, he would head to an auction to buy a newer car with fewer miles. And once he’d bought the car – a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa – it was gifted to the couple on Christmas Day, with the £2,300 raised going towards running costs, which left both of them ecstatic and extremely grateful to everyone who made the gesture possible.
On the dealership’s Instagram account, Onodi posted: ‘I gave up my Christmas morning to deliver this Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Automatic that I donated to an elderly lovely couple who sadly both have cancer and had their car stolen.
‘Local police have been doing a fundraiser and gave them a cheque for £2,300 for insurance and tax, fantastic to give to people who honestly deserve it! Merry Christmas from Onodi Car Sales!’
Pictured is James Onodi with the Corsa
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