Stranger fixes woman's sentimental moped, donates to her family fundraiser

(WJBK) - It was nearly two years ago that Betsy Davenport and her family suffered an incredible loss

"My brother died in a car accident and it's believed he had a stroke," she said. "It was daylight out and he was not on his phone. It's been really hard."

As each day goes by, Davenport is reminded about her brother Tyler and all the things that made him special - including that he loved his 2013 moped that she gave him when he finished school.

"I have a lot of memories of him coming to my house on it, taking my little boys for rides on the moped, (there's) like this connection," she said.

But recently Davenport and her family decided it was time to part ways with the moped because they could not get it to run. That was when Hugh Tucker entered the picture.

"I decided to sell it, I posted on Facebook Marketplace and had a lot of interest right away and Hugh was the first to contact me," she said.

But suddenly Davenport had a change of heart.

"And then that night I had a lot of regret and I cried a lot did not want to sell it," Davenport said. "I said Hugh I'm so sorry, grief is unpredictable, I can't sell it."

But Tucker says divine inspiration told him to offer a different plan.

"I really believe God spoke to me," he said. "This woman came into your life for a reason. It's not to buy a moped, it’s to help her.

"I said I'm going to fix your moped, put a battery in it, make it right, and bring it back up you on Saturday." 

And Tucker did not charge Davenport any money.

Uneasy at first, Davenport says she called on her brother, Tyler, for some guidance - and that's when she decided to take Tucker up on his offer.

But when Davenport arrived to pick up the moped, not only was it running, Tucker decided to give her something else. 

"So instead of me buying the moped, I fixed it and gave her $250 towards her brother's fundraiser," Tucker said. 

Tyler was an avid runner and to honor his legacy, the family holds a yearly memorial run. Proceeds raised go to support scholarships.

"I keep trying to find a way to thank him for his kindness and thank Hugh not only my family but the world that there is good out there - and that we have to look out for each other," Davenport said.

Tucker hopes this story will inspire others to be kind and to pay it forward 

"As my mother says, 'Hugh, you can't fix the world,'" he said. "Mom, that's where you're wrong. I can, one person at a time."

If you'd like more information on the memorial run, or would like to make a donation, click here.