A 67-year-old disabled man who was mugged outside of his home in Gateshead received overwhelming support from concerned individuals all over the world.
Help Alan Barnes, an online fund set up to raise funds for the disabled man and eponymous beneficiary, has exceeded expectations and amassed more than £200,000, The Independent reported.
The fund was set up through GoFundMe on Wednesday by Katie Cutler after she heard that Mr Barnes was mugged outside his home while he was taking out his rubbish. He suffered a fractured collarbone after his assailant pushed him to the ground.
Ms Cutler had initially only expected to raise £500 for Mr Barnes but people all over the world noticed the campaign. The donations started coming in and, in just three days, the fund had received a total of £200,000 in donations from many countries including South Africa, Canada, Holland, New Zealand and the United States.
Mr Barnes, who is visually impaired, described the response to the fundraiser as "unbelievable."
"I've only got a fractured collarbone, I didn't expect that sort of response," he told the BBC. "Thank you doesn't really seem to answer it, does it?"
In a separate interview with ITV News, Barnes said that he will not forget the generosity of the people that donated to the campaign.
"When my arm's healed up, it will fade away," he said of the memories of the mugging. "But the everything that's come with the fundraising, that will stay with me always."
Ms Cutler also cannot believe the outpouring of support for Alan. "I feel so overwhelmed," she told the Independent.
She told the BBC that people also offered practical assistance to Mr Barnes, from furniture, plumbing and electricity to interior designing.
"I can't believe how lovely people have been," she described the response to her fundraising.
