Callous Thief Swipes Hundreds from Wishing Well Honoring Brave 5-Year-Old Boy Who Lost His Battle with Brain Tumor

A HEARTLESS thief stole hundreds of pounds from a wishing well in memory of a five-year-old boy who died of a brain tumour.

Tristan Cork has been left devastated after realising that a callous thief had stolen hundreds of pounds of contributions, left in honour of his son.

A father in Norwich sets up a festive lights display every Christmas in memory of his sonCredit: SWNS A thief reportedly forced open the wishing well and stole from itCredit: Newsquest / SWNS Finnbar Cork tragically died of a brain tumour in 2016 when he was just fiveCredit: SWNS

The bereaved father puts hours of work each into creating a festive display in his village, where passersby drop donations into the well to raise money for his charity, Finnbar’s Force.

The charity is named after his son, who the family tragically lost to a in 2016.

Mr Cork said his festive light display in Hethersett, has grown in popularity over the years, and has raised about £30,000 for the charity.

However, on December 8, a thief reportedly forced open the wishing well he’d built along the trail and made off with hundreds of pounds given by members of the community.

The 43-year-old dad said: “We are really proud of the display.

“I don’t want to stop doing it, but an incident like this has made me question whether we will be able to keep the display up.

“It’s sad people want to destroy that. Usually, we empty the well, but on this particular night, a volunteer had forgotten to.”

The display was first created in 2017 by a small group of neighbours, and after the initial years, Mr Cork began accepting donations.

The wishing well now helps raise funds for Finnbar’s Force — the set up to support families and children affected by childhood cancer and brain tumours.

Finnbar’s story remains at the heart of the project.

Tristan and his wife Claire’s son began feeling dizzy in November 2015, only months after his fifth birthday.

By early 2016, his health declined rapidly as he suffered severe headaches and bouts of projectile vomiting.

He underwent emergency brain surgery to relieve dangerous pressure and was diagnosed with a Grade Two Astrocytoma — a form of brain cancer known to be fast-growing and prone to returning.

But Finnbar continued to deteriorate, and doctors later told the family the original diagnosis was likely incorrect, believing the tumour to be a far more aggressive type.

Every year Tristan Cork honours his son at ChristmasCredit: SWNS The display raises funds for Finnbar’s Force — the charity supporting families affected by childhood cancerCredit: SWNS

On August 5, 2016 — just five months after his diagnosis — Finnbar tragically passed away.

Mr Cork said: “It’s to remember Finnbar but also for the community.

“Things like this do make you question if you want to put the effort into doing it in the future.

“We start putting the collection boxes and lights up on October 1 and turn them on October 29.

“It’s a lot of work, so when something like this happens, you can’t help but feel disheartened.

“That’s not just because someone took the money — sometimes it feels like people don’t understand the amount of work that goes into it.

“The outpouring of support that we’ve had since has solidified that we want to carry on.

“The whole reason why we do this is to remember Finnbar.

“We feel the purpose of bringing the community together — we’ve had offers of donations and offers to fix the well.

“Despite the fact there are unpleasant individuals out there, there are also good people.”

Finnbar Cork suffered an aggressive type of brain tumourCredit: SWNS The display has raised £30,000 for the charity over the yearsCredit: SWNS

Mr Cork said he is unsure how much money the thief stole, as volunteers had not counted the donations beforehand.

Last year, the display raised £10,000 for Finnbar’s Force.

Mr Cork, who helps run the charity’s support centre in Norwich, added: “Our aim is to make sure families get all the support they need when they need it.

“There are gaps in the support available, and we provide a more holistic service.

“We’re fundraising at the moment for a one-to-one support worker for families going through diagnosis.

“It’s an awful time. You’re going through the worst moment of your life, but everything else still carries on.

“You still have children to look after, your car goes wrong, the toilet leaks.

“It’s difficult to cope when you’re at emotional capacity. If we can help relieve some of that burden, that’s what we’re here for.”

Mr Cork founded Finnbar’s Force a year after his son died, and the light display began appearing in a cluster of local gardens with help from neighbours the following year.

Visitors soon began knocking on his door with donations, prompting them to introduce formal collection points.

Today, donation boxes are attached to lampposts, and the wishing well — built by a retired local carpenter and set in a neighbour’s garden — has become a central feature.

The money from Mr Cork’s winter wonderland has contributed to the £500,000 the charity has brought in through events such as cycle rides and fundraising balls.

Although the well is monitored by two CCTV cameras, they failed to capture the culprit who struck on Monday night.

Norfolk are urging anyone with information, witnesses, or doorbell-camera footage to come forward.