Over 300 teddy bears were donated to little ones as part of Mandela Day festivities.
Bears of Courage, an initiative started by Ronelle Baars, donated over 300 teddy bears to little ones in hospitals and children’s homes for Mandela Day.
The teddy bear donation ceremony kicked off at Olivedale hospital on 17 July and moved to Flora Clinic and Wilgeheuwel hospital the next day.
They also handed out teddies to the children at Baby Moses sanctuary and Donald Gordon Children’s Oncology unit.
This kind-hearted gesture was spurred by an article Baars read last year about an organisation that knitted bears for children separated from their families during the Second World War.
Baars said, “I was intrigued, and set out to find the original pattern used and the history of these bears. These bears are still being made today in various countries and are sent to children in war-torn countries.”
She decided to launch her project in 2017 titled Bears of Courage and they made and handed out 67 bears to two hospitals.
This year, due to all the donations received, they were able to make over 300 bears and Baars was very happy that the teddy bears could put smiles on so many children’s faces.
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