A CALLINGTON Lion is sending thousands of teddy bears to Ukraine and is urging people to keep on knitting.
Emma Burnard, a member of the Callington Lions and part of the Cornwall and Devon Sending Love to Ukraine group who deliver humanitarian aid to Ukrainians, explained that the group has already sent around 3,000 teddy bears to Ukraine with more en-route this week.
The teddies to take away tears are given to Ukrainian children to help bring some light into the lives of these children who have experienced unimaginable trauma.
Emma expressed that she has been overwhelmed by the support received from avid knitters in the Tamar Valley who keep dropping off teddies.
She said: “The teddies are something simple, but they give so much joy.
“The response from the community has been absolutely fantastic and we’re receiving teddies left, right and centre.”
Emma explained that the knitting project was originally a Lions International initiative: “People knitted teddies that were given to the police, ambulance and fire service and if a child was involved in a traumatic experience they would be given one of the teddy bears to cuddle to take their mind off what they’d just been through.
“But it stopped because of covid, so when myself and my husband, Andrew decided to join Darren Tait on the first Ukraine trip, we donated a load of teddy bears, and it has taken off from there.”
Emma’s husband, Andrew Burnard continued: “People all across Devon and Cornwall are knitting, it’s amazing.
“We’ve got one lady in Torpoint who personally knitted 834 teddies which have gone on previous trips. I also have about 500-600 teddies loaded in the van to take this time.”
The latest convoy of vans to deliver aid left on Tuesday this week (October 25). The teddies are distributed to children in both orphanages and hospitals.
He added: “After our last trip, we received a video from Arina who we deliver the aid to and she had a group of 40 children at the orphanage who had a teddy each and they were just so excited. “Also, when we travel if we come across any Ukrainian children en route or when we bring back families with children we always keep some in the van to give to them. It takes their mind off the trauma they’re going through.”
Emma highlighted that seeing children receive the teddies is a humbling experience.
“It’s so rewarding. Especially when you see their faces light up. Some of them have been in their basements for six months and have had nothing else. It brightens up their world and ours. Their smiles will stay with me for the rest of my life.”