Plumber who refused to charge elderly woman gets $150k in donations

Money has been flowing in from all over the world for a plumber who went viral for offering free services to the elderly and disabled.

A plumber who offers elderly and disabled customers free services is hoping to spread his work across the United Kingdom after receiving $150,000 in donations.

A picture of James Anderson’s bill for $0 to a 91-year-old woman with leukaemia went viral after appearing online.

Mr Anderson has helped thousands of people in need through his company. Picture: James Anderson/Facebook

James, 52, of Burnley said he had received $A146,881 from all over the world.

“We don’t just have to do Lancashire now. I’m going to be ringing local engineers in the wider area,” he said.

His work, which he carries out through not-for-profit company Depher, has since received support from all over the world.

“People are talking about doing it in America, France and Australia, and they’re all going to contact me to get advice and guidance as to how to do it in their countries,” Mr Anderson said.

James Anderson’s kind act has gone viral. Picture: ProudDevonian/Twitter

“Hopefully … we can bring all communities together for one common cause across the planet, so everybody who’s elderly and disabled, not just in the UK, can benefit from something like this in society.”

The donations mean that Mr Anderson can increase the amount of help his company offers, which extends from free to discounted service, as well as advice on what other help might be available.

“I had to lay two of the lads off because I couldn’t afford it, then I had to go out and do the jobs myself as well as the paperwork, advertising, quotes and everything else,” he said.

“Now I can look at bringing them back.”

And while the work is focused on others, strangers have been making sure Mr Anderson is able to sustain his efforts by helping him pay off the debt he has racked up having switched to not-for-profit work.

“A lady from London rang up and put $3700 in my personal bank account for me to pay towards my debt, and another gentleman rang up and put $A1850 in for me,” he said.

“That’s $A5500 off the debt, which will keep the wolves from the door until I can get some more private jobs.”

Anderson said he was inspired to start DEPHER after he saw an elderly man being “manipulated”. Picture: James Anderson/Facebook

Mr Anderson has been running Disabled & Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair (DEPHER), a not-for-profit company, since March 2017.

Since the company started, Mr Anderson has helped 2389 people through the business.

He told CNN he was inspired to start DEPHER after he saw an elderly man being “manipulated” by another engineer.

“It got me thinking about other elderly and vulnerable people — we need to do something more to help the people who need it most,” he said.

“A lot of elderly and disabled people don’t like asking for assistance and if they can’t afford something like fixing the boiler, they might not do it and get into trouble. We are there to take that worry away.”

Hundreds of people have taken to social media to praise Mr Anderson for his selflessness.

“There are some wonderful people in this world. James is one of them,” one Twitter user said.

“#JamesAnderson you sir are a legend, in a country filled with hate & greed your humanity shines like a beacon, massive good luck with your business you thoroughly deserve it, you haven’t touch my boiler but you’ve given me a warm glow,” another wrote.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was republished with permission.