As a former journalist I still know a good story when I see one.

Just before Christmas the kind of tale that rears its head once in a blue moon hit the headlines.

You may have seen it … it was about a Preston art student, Dominique Harrison-Bentzen, who found herself stranded in town in the early hours after losing her bank card and with no cash for a taxi.

A homeless man, seeing her plight, offered her his last £3 to help get her home.

This astonishing gesture was subsequently rewarded many times over.

Dominique, who refused the money, later tracked the man down (he is called Robbie) and set up an online charity account to raise money for him.

Writing on the fundraising page she said: “The more I spoke about him the more kind gestures I learnt about, such as him returning wallets untouched to pedestrians and offering his scarf to keep people warm.

“He has been homeless for seven months through no fault of his own and needs to get back on his feet, but cannot get work due to having no address.

“So that’s when I decided to change Robbie’s life and help him, as he has helped many others.”

And help him she certainly did! At time of writing, the charity account has received £32,500 and the total is still rising.

The money will help pay for a house deposit for Robbie and will also be used to ease the plight of other homeless people in the area.

It is almost certainly not the outcome Robbie expected when he offered Dominique his last £3.

Which of us would part with ALL we have to help someone else?

It was only £3 you might say.

But it was everything to Robbie … he offered her all he had in the world so she could get home safely.

God promises to bless us if we give our all to Him.

Robbie’s gesture was a totally selfless one and has certainly been blessed many times over.

It could so easily have been forgotten, but the subsequent windfall he has received as a result of Dominique’s kindness and resourcefulness is well deserved and will hopefully set him on the road to a brighter future.

If you want to help Robbie and other homeless people you still can, just visit gogetfunding/helprobbie

 

Ronnie Semley

Diocesan Communications Manager

The Church of England in Lancashire