Teddy Bears Anonymous attempts to offer just a little bit of comfort in what is often a scary situation, and thanks to the Bikers for Bears motorcycle run, some more of that help will soon be coming the way of Moose Jaw and District EMS.
The organization raised over $1,000 for the local emergency medical service on Saturday afternoon, with those funds going to the purchase of brand-new bears for Moose Jaw EMS ambulances. Those stuffed animals will be given to children who find themselves under the care of EMS and needing transport to hospital.
“We’re overwhelmed with the support,” said Teddy Bears Anonymous founder Luke Lawrence as riders milled around the parking lot at A&W North Service Road, the sponsor for the day’s event. “Moose Jaw EMS is here with their lights flashing and creating awareness, they’re the newest EMS service in the province to join the Teddy Bears Anonymous program here in Saskatchewan, so we’re really happy to see all the riders and to have EMS here, too.”
The Bikers for Bears saw a group of a dozen or so riders leave Regina in the early afternoon for the quick jaunt to Moose Jaw, capping off a venture that saw each rider pick up sponsorships for the event.
“Instead of the normal $20 entry fee, we asked everyone to go out and get sponsors, and as soon as everyone realizes what the cause is, it’s not hard to get $20 from a relative or friend,” Lawrence said. “We’re at $950 of our goal of $1,000 today, but our donation jar is pretty full too, so we’ll going to hit our goal here and we’re pretty happy about that.”
The organization holds fundraisers of different types in Saskatchewan throughout the year, with all proceeds going back to the participating communities. And there’s a bunch of ‘em -- Lawrence estimates there are 36 EMS teams participating as well as 20 hospitals from all over the province.
Teddy Bears Anonymous purchases the cello-wrapped bears directly from the factory and takes every step to keep them as sterile as possible so they’re of little risk to injured or sick EMS patients and can even be taken into surgery.
Samples of the stuffies were on hand at A&W, and one lucky family who stopped by for lunch were approached by Moose Jaw EMS members with bears in hand as a gift just when they were packing up to leave. As one might expect, the kind gesture left smiles on everyone’s faces.
The plan is to make the Bikers for Bears run an annual event and Lawrence would love to see it expand rapidly in scope and size.
“You start out with something, and I’ve already had so many people saying ‘when is it next year, when is it next year’, so we’ll be back,” Lawrence said.
If folks wish to help out, the charity is still taking donations for the local run. Just visit teddybearsanonymous.ca, click the fundraiser link and you’ll find Bikers for Bears. Follow the links and you’re all set.
For up-to-date information on Teddy Bears Anonymous, visit their website and follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/teddybearsanonymous.ca.
