East Lancashire Freemasons Mike Stubbs (2nd from right) hands over hundreds of TLC Teddies to Sister Gill Mills, Occupational Health Assistant Chris Bentley, Finance Officer David Gibson and ELHT&Me Fundraising Manager, Denise Gee
Sick and injured children being treated at local A&E and Urgent Care Centres are feeling less stressed and more comfortable thanks to the latest generous donation of Teddies for Loving Care [TLC] by East Lancashire Freemasons.
With the support of a grant from the East Lancashire Masonic Charity, the East Ribble District Freemasons recently restocked Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital’s A&E with 12 more boxes of Teddies for Loving Care.
The TLC bears are given to children suffering from trauma, injury or illness. Using the bears helps medical staff to befriend the children, reward them for being brave and sometimes, to demonstrate the medical procedures that are going to be performed.
"Thanks to the Freemasons, the TLC Teddies have benefitted thousands of children over many years by relieving distress and taking away the worry of being surrounded by strangers," says East Lancashire Hospitals Fundraising Manager, Denise Gee.
"The kids love them, and the staff find them really useful to build a rapport with children and their parents.
“And the best part is that the children are free to take their TLC Teddy home with them after treatment."
Over the past decade, the Freemasons have visited local hospitals every few months, each time donating more TLC bears to help take children’s minds off their illnesses and injuries.
As a result, the Freemasons’ 10-year association with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has seen in excess of 7,000 TLC Bears delivered to the A&E and urgent care centres at Burnley General and Royal Blackburn teaching hospitals.
"A TLC Teddy benefits a child in so many ways," says East Lancashire Freemasons Charity Steward, Mike Stubbs.
“The inspiration for Teddies for Loving Care came from the wife of a Freemason whose life was saved by medical staff at an A&E unit. The Freemason and his wife were both so grateful for the care and attention that she received that it got them thinking about how frightening it must be for a child who was facing a similar situation in A&E units.
“The TLC Appeal is an international project and Freemasons are delighted to have distributed more than one million TLC Teddies in the UK.”
Just £5 buys two TLC Teddies for sick and injured children, and donations can be made online at www.tlcappeal.org/