Chorley mum has water safety campaigning equipment stolen from car in Manchester
Becky Ramsay started campaigning for better water safety after she lost her son Dylan in 2011.
Last updated 3rd Nov 2021
The community is rallying around water safety campaigner and mum from Chorley, Becky Ramsay, who's car was broken into on Monday (1st November).
Becky lost her son Dylan back in 2011 when he drowned in a local quarry - and has spent the last 10 years dedicating her life to spreading life-saving water safety information across the UK.
Her car was parked in Manchester at the time while her and her daughter were at a Dappy concert.
Among the things taken were some of the props she uses when giving talks in schools like dry suits, buoyancy aids and throw lines.
She says it's devastating:
"It had literally been trashed. They took everything out of glove boxes, the side doors, my medication was chucked around the car and then we quickly realised everything out the boot other than the picture of Dylan and the 'Doing it for Dylan' picture frame has been taken so all of my life saving equipment really.
"I'm gunna have to try and replace as many of the items as possible otherwise the presentation is just a little bit boring especially for the younger children.
"I'm devastated. That's my life. That's what I've spent 10 years of my life building up. I've just managed to create a kit to take into schools that does make it that little bit more interactive.
"I guess the problem as well is that it's such a mindless act of vandalism and these items are totally worthless to anyone else but pretty priceless to me.
"There are some more important things that are irreplaceable that were taken like the letter from students. pupils, teachers, cadets, people who have offered words of encouragement - a lot of those letters were in those bags because I would read them before a school presentation to give myself some inspiration and they can't be replaced.
"The 'Doing it for Dylan' wristbands, again, pointless to anybody and they're things I give out for free.
"The response I've received so far has been amazing. A stranger from Canada has set up a Just Giving Page which I'm absolutely blown away at. Byron from the JJ Effects donated a laptop to take into schools. Honestly I'm just overwhelmed by the response from the public in the aftermath.
She has this message for the person or people that committed the crime:
"All I ask is that you give me my stuff back and no further action will be taken.
"I'm not looking for revenge. I don't care why you did it. I don't think it was personal and I don't think you knew what you were taking - but now you've opened the bags and you've seen what's in them, please just make sure that somehow they get back to me.