Stockton, Sunday 7 September – a teddy on a mission! The 4 millionth Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) bear completed quite the journey – travelling from Freemasons’ Hall in London to a child at North Tees General Hospital, arriving in style thanks to Durham Freemasons’ annual charity bike ride.
Teddy began its journey in London, personally collected by John Thompson, Assistant Grand Master for Freemasons in England and Wales, the teddy travelled north to join more than 40 riders and their support crew ahead of their ride. Over three days, the team clocked up 160 miles – from Hornsea in East Yorkshire to Stockton-on-Tees – raising an impressive £30,000 along the way, bringing the Durham TLC fundraising total to over £240,000.
Gavin Rowell, Provincial Charity Steward for Durham Freemasons and organiser of the ride, said:
“It was an absolute honour and a privilege for our cyclists to be involved in celebrating the 2 amazing milestones with the TLC. 120,000 bears in Durham and 4 million nationally are incredible achievements and ones that all involved should be very proud of.
Our efforts this year add to the circa £10 million raised nationally by Freemasons since TLC was launched in 2001 in Essex. It’s inspiring to see how something so small can have such a huge impact on children attending A&E.”
Mark Davies, Durham Freemasons Coordinator for TLC Teddies, added:
“We are honoured to deliver the 4 millionth TLC teddy here in our region. The teddies are something Freemasons are especially proud of, as they make a big difference to the children who receive them by ‘turning tears into smiles’ at a difficult time.”
The bear-illiant milestone was celebrated at North Tees Hospital, where the very special delivery was received by staff and families. Stacey Hunter, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Tees, said:
“We are privileged to welcome the 4 millionth TLC teddy to North Tees Hospital. These bears make a real difference to children and families during what can be a very worrying time, and it is an honour for our hospital to be part of such a landmark moment in this wonderful charity’s journey.”
Among those pedalling in the ride was John Thompson himself, who reflected on the wider impact of the scheme:
“We are immensely proud of the work carried out across our Province and beyond. TLC teddies provide not only comfort for children, but also vital reassurance for families and healthcare staff, enabling doctors and nurses to focus on treatment.”
Since 2007, Durham Freemasons have donated 120,000 TLC teddies to local hospitals. Each bear is a real hero – bringing comfort to children during difficult situations.
The TLC initiative is entirely powered by donations from Freemasons and their families, plus countless volunteer hours spent fundraising, delivering bears, and spreading the word.
On the day, Stacey Hunter and John Watts, Head of Durham Freemasons, were there to welcome the riders and to hand over the history-making 4 millionth bear.
