Arctic teddy appeal launched for hospice

9:17am Monday 28th January 2008

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A CHARITY appeal which aims to take hundreds of teddy bears to the Arctic has been officially launched.

More than 100 people gathered at Northland Methodist Church, in Darlington, for the launch of the Teddies to the Arctic appeal in aid of St Teresa's Hospice, in the town.

The event also featured a performance from local folk group Fourum.

The appeal has been organised by Heather Thompson, from Darlington.

She hopes to raise £30,000 by getting people to raise at least £100 to send a teddy with her and her husband, Geoff, when they travel by motorhome to North Cape, in Norway, the most northerly point in Europe. Once there, they intend to hold the world's largest teddy bear's picnic.

The couple were originally planning to travel with their friends Bob and Jean Hattersley.

However, due to unforeseen circumstance, Mr and Mrs Hattersley are unable to go, so Mr and Mrs Thompson will make the journey on their own.

Mrs Thompson said: "The launch went extremely well.

We took £471 on the night and there must have been at least another £100 in ticket sales, so it raised around £600.

"That brings the total so far to £2,000, which is absolutely fantastic."

The next major fundraising event will be a series of concerts in Darlington by Mrs Thompson's Godson, Mike Mason.

Mike, a cornet player, is one of the youngest members of the National Youth Band of Great Britain.

He is doing the concerts to raise money for the hospice as his aunt Ali Burley died from cancer in March last year.

The concerts will take place on Saturday, February 9 at Cockerton Methodist Church, at 3pm; Wednesday, February 20, at Haughton Methodist Church, at 7.30pm; and Saturday, March 1 at Northland Methodist Church, at 3pm.

All the concerts are free and a collection will be taken at the end.

For more information, or to sponsor a bear, call the hospice on 01325-254321.