More money has come from Freemasons to make sure there will always be a tiny teddy to comfort small children facing the hospital visits thanks to two more donations to the Teddies for Loving Care Charity.
Funded entirely by Freemasons, the charity has given more than 3.5 MILLION bears to hospitals around the country for staff to give to children having treatment. In Lincolnshire the effort is co-ordinated by Graham ‘Teddy Man’ Cadel, who was given not one but two cheques at the meeting of Excalibur Lodge in Lincoln. The first, or £306, was raised at the Lodge’s Ladies Dining In Night; the second of £100 raised in lieu of members sending Christmas cards to each other.
Said Graham: “For once in my life I was speechless, which raised a cheer from everyone at the meeting. But seriously, these donations are so important because the bears they buy help to take away a child’s fear of the unknown during a hospital visit. The bears might be small, but their impact is enormous. They comfort the child, and make it easier for staff to give the necessary treatment. We’re glad to be able to help, even though we’re unlikely to know the people we’ve helped. We know just how grateful parents are when their child is given one of our bears, because the thought that someone else cares helps them through a difficult time.”