A FUNDRAISER has appealed for help after thieves stole a bike he was planning to use to raise money to fight two debilitating conditions.

Dom Mills is geared up to cycle 150 miles with his girlfriend Laura Parsons to raise money for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

He saved up £400 to buy a special mountain bike for the trip – but last Monday night, he discovered that thieves had stolen it by ripping out a bike rack outside his flat, in Sinclair Drive, Brookvale, Basingstoke.

The 22-year-old said: “I went outside to take the bins out and the whole bike rack had been taken out of the ground.

“It is just so frustrating. I knew it was a bike that people would like. When I saw it was gone, the first thing I thought of was whether I can do the challenge. I cannot save up that much money again to get another one.”

Mr Mills, who works at insurance firm Unum, in Basing View, appealed for anyone who has seen his bike to contact the police. It is a large-sized Specialized HardRock mountain bike, and is black with red lettering.

The couple plan to cycle the 180 miles over three days next Easter. The first day involves a 79-mile ride from Farnham in Surrey to Semley in Dorset. They then travel to Lyndhurst in the New Forest, before returning to Farnham on the final day.

Anyone with information about the bike theft is asked to contact Basingstoke police station on 101.

To sponsor the couple, visit uk.virginmoney giving.com/team/domandlaura.