And finally…cart tale corners market in sympathy

An online crowdfunding campaign has raised a staggering $200,000 (£150,000) within days for an elderly Chicago ice lolly seller who was pictured struggling to push his cart as he attempted to provide for his tragedy-hit family.

Fidencio Sanchez, 89, was forced out of retirement in the summer after his only daughter died, leaving him and his ailing wife heartbroken and with custody of her children.

The GoFundMe page was set up by a stranger who was moved to see the paleta seller hunched over his trolley.

He has been selling ice pops in the Little Village neighbourhood of the Windy City for 23 years before retiring.

But just two months later in July his daughter passed away.

His wife, who also used to sell the ‘ice popsicles’, was forced to stop trading in the summer because of failing health.

“We thought, what are we going to do? We have to pay the bills,” the Spanish-speaking vendor told ABC News through a translator.

The only answer for Mr Sanchez was to get back to his pushing his cart to support his wife and grandchildren.

“I wake up early and (work) all day until eight at night,” he said.

The online fundraiser was set up last Friday by a passer-by who was inspired by the ageing paleta seller’s work ethic.

“It broke my heart seeing this man who should be enjoying retirement,” Joel Cervantes Macias wrote on GoFundMe.

Mr Macias, who runs a Mexican restaurant, said he bought 20 paletas from Mr Sanchez for $50.

He drove away and posted the photo on Facebook, with the comment: “I respect this man to the fullest! #workflow #dyingbreed #mexicano #migente.”

The image sparked an overwhelming response from people touched by the story and took only one day for the page to reach over $100,000 as people rushed to donate money to the man and his wife.

Mr Macias said he decided to set up the online fundraiser, “Relief for Fidencio the paleta man”, in the hope of collecting $3,000 dollars (£2,250) for him – this was achieved in less than an hour.

By Monday evening, the page had raised more than $201,000.

Despite the windfall, Mr Sanchez says he has no plans to stop working.