A mum was left shocked after social media users stepped in to buy her son a pet after the child lost his birthday money.
Bobby Feely-Herron had been gifted £250 by his parents, grandparents and auntie to buy two lizards.
On their way to pick up the creatures, the schoolboy and his mum, Claire, popped into Aldi for a quick shop.
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Then, disaster ensued as somewhere along the way, Bobby’s birthday fund fell out of his pocket.
The pair retraced their steps, but the cash was nowhere to be found.
“Bobby had his heart set on getting a gecko for months,” the 40-year-old mum, from Deal, Kent, told What’s the Jam.
“He went and picked two out and put a £80 deposit down for them a few weeks ago so he was already attached.
“We went to go shopping in Aldi before we picked the geckos up and he was supposed to leave the money in the car, but he brought it with him.
“I told him to give it to me or put it in his pocket.
“Then he said he’d lost it.
“My heart sank and he was panicking.
“We checked his trouser leg and all his pockets.
“It didn’t hit him properly until we got home, then he had a complete meltdown.
“It’s a big chunk of money and I didn’t have it spare to replace it.”
In a last-ditch effort, Claire shared a post on Facebook, pleading with whoever had found the money to hand it in so her son could buy his pet.
Touched by her story, strangers online stepped in to help by suggesting she launch a GoFundMe.
She said: “I was hoping that someone with a conscience would hand it [the money] in.
“Someone suggested setting up a GoFundMe and people were saying that they wanted to donate.
“We raised £180.
“I couldn’t believe it.
“It was a really nice feeling that people came together to help him out.
“I thought it was so generous.
“I thought people were going to say he shouldn’t be carrying that amount of money around with him but people were lovely.
“He’s learned his lesson.”
Bobby was able to pick up his new pets, Luna and Asteroid, in time for his birthday (26 Feb).
Claire added: “Geckos have been his special interest for months.
“I said if he wanted one then he had to do a lot of research on how to look after them.
“He did projects on where they come from and what they need.
“He’s obsessed with them and he’s so happy.
“We feed them crickets.
“They’re very chill and calming and he loves them.
“Bobby is so grateful.”
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