SI Sevenoaks were delighted to hear a talk by member Shirley Brigham on 10th March about her wonderful work making trauma teddies. Shirley knits these whilst watching television – she says it keeps her awake – and currently she has knitted more than 900 bears! The teddies have been donated to schools, Police and Fire services, hospitals and the latest batch has just been delivered to Ukraine for children there. Here is a report from the charity’s newsletter:
‘Is there anything that says ‘we care’ more than a box of lovingly knitted bears? Thanks to the enthusiasm of Shirley, one of our supporters who lives in Sevenoaks, this box of 80 bears was sent to Ukraine in a recent shipment. Alla, from Ukraine on Palms, the charity we partner with in Ukraine, forwarded this note from a grateful recipient:
“… this is the mother of a little boy, thank you very much, I received the parcel. I was standing at the post office and waiting for my parcel to be brought. I see the guy carrying the parcel and I wonder if it’s mine or not, but then I saw the inscription Luhansk region is mine and tears came to my eyes, I write and also tears in my eyes, and when I opened the parcel and there was a knitted teddy bear toy, emotions flooded. I caught myself thinking that I would keep the toy for life, somehow it looks homely. Thank you for all the gifts. Happy holidays, peace, health, goodness and a Guardian Angel for many years to come”.
Says it all doesn’t it?’ There were a few moist eyes when Shirley read this out to us! We are very proud of her – still working away in her 91st year – what a credit to our club she is!
Pictured Shirley Brigham with SI Sevenoaks Club President Margaret Crabtree
Sandie Higgs
SI Sevenoaks
