A CHARITY postbox topper in Worcester city centre has disappeared and is thought to have been stolen, writes Maya Evans.
The topper, located outside the Worcester Tourist Information Office was the culmination of hours of hard work from resident Lucy Higgins.
Featuring a collection of crocheted hearing dog puppies, Lucy, 42, created the topper to raise awareness about the life-changing work of the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Lucy, partnered with her own hearing dog Wilbur in 2022, said she was dismayed when she found out the topper had been stolen.
“It was meant to raise awareness about the charity and to cheer people up, and now it’s gone. It’s devastating.
“I can only think that it has been stolen. I just can’t believe someone would do that for something meant to raise awareness of a charity. It’s very upsetting,” she said.
She took on the task as part of the charity’s February Fundraiser, the 28 Challenge, where supporters of the charity commit to complete a fun, 28-related challenge. To date, her fundraiser, now scuppered by the theft, has raised over £1,200.
‘Sudden hearing loss in her teens’
Lucy suddenly lost her hearing in her teens due to a rare auto-immune disease called Granuloma with Polyangiitis or GPA, which caused various debilitating symptoms.
“I went from being a happy, healthy student with a part-time job and an active social life, to barely leaving my home. At my worst points, I used to sleep as much as possible so there were fewer waking hours in the day.”
Things began to change when Lucy’s sister suggested the idea of a hearing dog. After being partnered with Wilbur back in March 2022, the pair have remained inseparable.
Explaining that her bond with Wilbur was her motivation for taking part in the charity’s 28 Challenge, Lucy said “Wilbur isn’t just my ears – he’s my best friend. He’s changed my life in more ways than I could’ve imagined and I wanted to make that possible for someone else.”
At home, Wilbur helps Lucy stay safe by alerting her to sounds like the smoke alarm, doorbell, alarm clock and even FaceTime notifications. His presence has had a profound impact on her mental health, helping her feel more confident and less isolated.
Huge loss for the charity
Gill Yeates, head of community fundraising for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said “Lucy put in an incredible amount of work to crochet the topper and its puppies.
“This is a huge loss, both for Lucy and for our charity.”
She added “I would urge anyone who finds the topper, or who knows where it might be, to take it into the Tourist Information Office.”
To access Lucy’s fundraising page, visit justgiving.com/page/lucy-and-wilbur-5
