This week saw TLC Teddies achieve a local landmark: 10 years and 30,000 bears donated to local hospitals.
Hull City AFC players Alfred N’Diaye and Oumar Niasse and former Tigers captain Ian Ashbee called into the Children’s Emergency Department (ED) at Hull Royal Infirmary to mark the occasion. They brought with them a special celebration cake, baked especially for the occasion by local Hull baker, Joe Duffill.
Ian Williams, TLC Coordinator, Yorkshire North & East Ridings, says:
“We are proud to have presented our landmark 30,000th TLC Teddy to staff at Hull Royal Infirmary.
“For 10 years, TLC has supported the Children’s Emergency Department in Hull, helping distressed children who are brought in for treatment. It was great to see Ian and the Hull City players kindly present the 30,000th bear, funded by the donations of Freemasons in Yorkshire, North & East Ridings, to the Hull paediatric nurse practitioners.”
Kelly Williams, Play Specialist from the Children’s ED says:
“As well as being in pain or feeling unwell, children who come into the Emergency Department are often frightened, upset or confused. The TLC bears are a really effective way of bringing comfort to young children or serving as a distraction during treatment, for example, whilst for those who can understand a little bit more, we sometimes use the bears to show how we’re going to put a dressing or a cast on.
“The bears help us as health professionals to earn children’s trust and communicate with them in a way they can understand, and this is so important. We are always grateful for our TLC donations which help us to carry on doing the good work we’re known for and help local children back on the road to recovery.”
Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire North & East Riding Jeffrey Gillyon, who also unveiled a plaque within the department to mark the event says:
“Hull Freemasons are proud to have supported their communities for over 200 years and this is another example of a fantastic initiative. 30,000 TLC bears is an amazing landmark to reach.”