By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
THE funds raised will go towards paying bills and living expenses, but the cards and words of support will stay with Rajneesh Sirohi and his children forever.
Cranbourne was the community they had planned to move into with the greatest of aspirations.
And although they may never get the opportunity to call it home, the Cranbourne community has wrapped their arms around the young family and raised more than $9000.
It was director at Century 21 Results in Cranbourne, Lucas Petrovich, who decided to raise money for the grieving family who had hit rock bottom after the death of Rajneesh’s wife, Sangeeta Sirohi, and mother to their two children.
He’s been called an “angel” by the late Sangeeta’s brother, Sanjeev, and will be delivering the cards and cash to Rajneesh- who he now calls a friend- within the next two weeks.
After Star News published the hardship the family was facing in late April, messages of support with donations from $10 came flooding in to the real estate agency.
“We raised around $300 after the story was published, and the cards said such nice things,” Lucas said.
Lucas was chosen by Rajneesh to sell his family’s dream home, after deciding he couldn’t do it without his beloved wife, who passed on Sunday 10 January, leaving behind a heartbroken husband, 12-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.
Sangeeta was diagnosed with advanced leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of the uterus in April last year.
But it was the recurring burglaries to the turnkey property which added strain and heartache to what has been a devastating turn of events.
Thieves stripped the brand new home over three separate break-ins, taking with them a new video intercom, vanities, lighting, ducted heating, oven and cooktop and doorbell among other things.
The couple had been planning and saving for the home for many years and relative Sanjeev told Star News the shock and continuous burglaries to the home Sangeeta and Rajneesh (Raj) “built with so much love and hope” has “totally broken Raj”.
“My sister and her family spent their whole lives living in a small flat, saving money to build a house of their dreams, but it is sad and a shame that it couldn’t happen,” Sanjeev said.
Lucas was pleased to advise the family’s Cranbourne house sold subject to finance on Saturday 21 May. They are now renting in Cheltenham.
Rajneesh’s father, who flew to Melbourne from India, had been catching the train from Cheltenham to Cranbourne every day for weeks to sit alone inside the house to protect it from thieves.
“He sits in the lounge room, there’s no TV, in case of another break-in, he has been doing it for a month,” Lucas said.
Century 21 Results has been raising money for more than a month, and Lucas said all kinds of people had made donations.
“Some people that came in really didn’t have much money, you could tell that, but they still donated $50 here and there.”
The most notable donations came from Samra Zizak ($1000), Jagmit Chug, Nuno Camara and Jodie Curran ($200), Glenn and Naomi Twiddle ($250) and $500 from an anonymous source.
“One gentleman from Cranbourne offered Raj his house, he was going to let them move in with him,” Lucas said, shocked by the generosity.
“One of the cards was from an 84-year-old with a $50 donation- without a doubt the story has resonated with people.”
When Lucas was five years old, he lost his father while building a family home. Lucas said he was so happy he could be of some help to Raj.
“I think we have forged a bit of a bond and friendship, and I think in the future we will still catch up, and if I can help in any way in the future I will,” Lucas said.
Donations can still be made to the Sirohi family by contacting Century 21 Results Cranbourne.
