Fundraising for bomb blast taxi driver David Perry tops £30,000 in under 24 hours

Two fundraising pages set up to help Women’s Hospital bomb blast taxi driver David Perry have raised well over £30,000 in less than 24 hours.

David, who has been hailed a hero for his actions outside the hospital on Sunday morning, is reported to have suffered injuries and burns in the terror incident.

Now fundraising campaigns have been launched to support him and his family, and to replace the car which was destroyed in the explosion.

One on Facebook created by Jenny Phillips and friends at Blueline taxis and the Merseyside and West Lancashire Drivers has already topped £20,000 from over 1,500 donations. You can donate to that here.

A second one on Go Fund Me, started in the name of ‘the lads out The Saddle, Kirkdale’ has collected a further £16,000-plus from in excess of 1,200 supporters. You can donate to that here.

Donors from Liverpool, across the UK and abroad have praised David’s bravery and quick thinking, describing him as an “absolute hero, credit to the city” and wishing him a speedy recovery.

Others, including those whose relatives were working in the Women’s at the time of the blast, have called for David to receive an honour for his selfless actions.

Jenny, who started the Facebook fund which has a £100,000 target, said she was asking people to donate any amount, however small, to support David and his family.

“I appreciate Christmas is imminent, but would we be celebrating if it wasn’t for David Perry?” she added. “David doesn’t work for me but he is still part of a very big taxi family and we will always salute you every year on Remembrance Day.

“David is home resting with his family now. The fund is simply to help a family and a good guy who didn’t deserve this. He has a lot of recovery to do but deserves a medal for his actions.”

The Go Fund Me page was set up with a £20,000 target with the aim of allowing David to buy a new car so he can carry on with his job and livelihood once he has recovered, and to help him and his family get by during a terrible time.

Go Fund Me has said that, as with all campaigns which are set up in response to a news story and end up going viral, donations are in safe hands and it is “working with the organisers and will hold funds until they can be safely delivered.”