The Freemasons of West Wales who have been providing teddy bears to the four main hospitals and to health centres in Tenby and Cardigan to give to sick and injured children for many years now under a scheme known as TLC (Teddies for Loving Care) are continuing the project to mark 21 years since it was launched.

The scheme is currently being featured in a Facebook campaign called ‘Teddy on Tour’ which has been organised by the Masonic Charitable Foundation who are the central administrators for the scheme.

“The cuddly and colourful teddies are much loved by children, and greatly appreciated by parents and medical staff who often use the teddies to show children what is wrong with them and what they are going to do to make them better,” said Steve Thurgood of Tenby Lodge and Freemasons of West Wales.

“The bears have a calming influence and often become a child’s favourite ‘cuddly’ as they were together at a frightening time.”

The scheme was launched by Essex Freemasons in 2001 and was such a success that since then 47 Provinces have adopted the scheme and around 3.5 million teddy bears have been given to children at hospitals across the U.K. and Ireland, and even as far afield as New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Gibraltar.

The Freemasons of West Wales Province took up the scheme in 2005 and since then over 33,000 teddies have been given to children at the four main hospitals in the Province (Glangwili, Withybush, Bronglais and Prince Philip), as well as at health centres in Tenby and Cardigan.

To celebrate the 21 year milestone the MCF launched a Facebook campaign recently called ‘Teddy on Tour’ where Red Ted ‘toured’ the UK and Ireland (and other parts of the globe!) calling in at a different Province each day to pose for photographs and have a few words written about the visit.

He started the tour in Essex where TLC began and arrived in West Wales on August 26 where he met the Head of West Wales Freemasons and had some fun before moving on, as can be seen from the photographs that appeared on Facebook!

While in Pembrokeshire, Red Ted called in at Withybush Hospital A&E where over 8,000 TLC teddies have been given to children over the years, and he is pictured with Provincial Grand Master James Ross, A&E Consultant Nicola Drake, Senior Sister Andrea Williams and Emergency Nurse Practitioner Andrea Owens.

Red Ted also took time out to catch some rays overlooking Tenby’s picturesque harbour, seen here with West Wales TLC Co-ordinator Steve Thurgood.

If a child in your family has ever received a TLC teddy and you would like to make a comment you can send an email to [email protected]