Bring Your Bear is an annual event that raises vital funds for the charity's Touching Tiny Lives campaign to help sick and vulnerable babies. The idea is very simple and it’s easy to take part on any day in June that’s convenient for your organisation. Staff bring a teddy bear or favourite soft toy into the office for the day and in return donate £1 - or hopefully more!
Barclays branches in the South east have already signed up – showing that bank managers do have a cuddly side.
Bring Your Bear Event Manager, Lizzy Chapman, says: "Bring Your Bear is both enjoyable and fulfilling and it's a great way to enhance team spirit and have a little bit of fun at work, all for a great cause. This year we're aiming to raise more money than ever before, so we hope businesses will show their softer sides for just one day. If we achieve our target we could potentially fund an entire three-year Touching Tiny Lives research project with the money raised, helping to give more babies the best possible start in life. This would be a fantastic way of marking our loyal mascot Paddington’s 50th anniversary."
Last year's event raised more than £86,000, which is funding work to help prevent life-threatening pregnancy complications and reduce premature births.
Once an organisation registers, they receive a free fundraising pack to support their day.
Every organisation that takes part receives a personalised certificate to recognise the achievement of their staff. The top ten Bring Your Bear 2008 fundraisers will receive a visit from the famous bear himself, when he will present an extra special library set of all his books, including an exclusive signed edition of the brand new title 'Here and Now', to be published in June.
To register, visit www.action.org.uk/byb or call 01403 210406.
The Bear Facts
- The first Paddington story, 'A Bear called Paddington', written by Michael Bond, was published in October 1958
Paddington's official birthday is in Bring Your Bear month, on 25th June
Paddington has supported Action Medical Research for more than 30 years, helping to raise millions to help fund vital medical breakthroughs
Bring Your Bear was launched in 1996 and has raised more than £500,000 to date
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Print quality photographs of the fundraising pack and Paddington are available to download at:
www.action.org.uk/news_media/images/bring_your_bear_example_pack_08.jpg
www.action.org.uk/news_media/images/paddington_inside.jpg
For more information please contact:
Clare Coleman, Press & PR Officer
Tel: 01403 327480
Email: ccoleman@action.org.uk
Action Medical Research is a national charity, which is dedicated to building a healthier future for everyone. The Charity is funding research into many serious diseases and conditions, including premature birth, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, osteoporosis, blindness, inflammatory bowel disease and stroke.
Action Medical Research has been supporting/funding breakthroughs for over 50 years and its life-saving work benefits babies, children and adults. The Charity’s successes include helping develop the UK polio vaccine, ultrasound scanning in pregnancy, the hip replacement operation, and discovering the link between taking folic acid during pregnancy and preventing spina bifida.
Touching Tiny Lives is Action Medical Research’s fundraising campaign to help the most vulnerable babies in this country. More research is needed to ensure that all babies, especially babies born prematurely, have the best possible start in life. To date this appeal has raised more than £3m to fund over 30 high-quality medical research projects into pregnancy complications and premature birth.
www.action.org.uk
