DENVER -- Denver comedian Christie Buchele was already dealing with shut-down comedy clubs due to the novel coronavirus. Then, she had her specialized tricycle stolen right off her front porch. It’s the only bike she can ride given her cerebral palsy.
“I did have it locked but they cut through my heavy duty lock,” she told Denver7.
The hot pink tricycle had also been modified for her, having extra gears that made it easier to ride. She said sometime early Tuesday morning it was taken in the area of South Lincoln Street and East Dakota Avenue in Denver.
“I’m definitely bummed to have it be missing because it was such a perfect bike for me,” she said. “Because I do have cerebral palsy it’s not safe for me to ride a regular bike.”
The search is now on for the three-wheeled bike. In the mean time, Buchele's friends convinced her to set up a GoFundMe account to replace it. That account raised over $1,200 in only a dew days.
“I just know the community and how wonderful they are. Everybody was so excited to help right away,” she said.
And if her bike is found or the goal is exceeded, she already knows a good place for all the money that’s been raised.
“These funds can go to the independent theaters here in Denver that are completely shut down from COVID. They have no income right now but they’re ones that are supporting in the comedy community so much year-round,” she said.
Those clubs include the Bug Theater, Buntport Theater, and Voodoo Comedy. The fundraiser can be found here.