Teddy Bear Shop Organises Support for Syrian Children

Published on: 11 Jan, 2014
Updated on: 15 Jan, 2014

Andrew Colborne-Baber (back, centre) with Blue cap, Pete Lambert and Anne Milton MP, outside the Bear Garden Shop in Jeffries Passage.

Andrew Colborne-Baber (back, centre) with Guildford Blue Cap, Pete Lambert and Anne Milton MP, outside the Bear Garden Shop in Jeffries Passage.

Watching the images of over three million Syrian children suffering the trauma of living in a war torn country, not to mention the 1 million living in refugee camps, local business man Andrew Colborne-Baber was moved to action.

On Christmas Eve 20% of the total takings his Guildford store, The Bear Garden, in Jeffries Passage, were donated to War Child, the registered charity who work on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous countries.

“I have two young children of my own and seeing the images of all these displaced children in Syria really hit a nerve and made me feel totally helpless” commented Mr Colborne-Baber. “I decided then that I could do something. After all, Christmas is a time for giving and the majority of these children have absolutely nothing”.

Not only does 20% of everything that was paid for on Christmas Eve in store and online go to War Child, but Mr Colborne-Baber has also set up a page on justgiving.com (www.justgiving.com/The-Bear-Garden) for anyone wishing to just donate. At the time of writing, the amount raised was £923.80 with the appeal running until the end of January.

It seems too that all the staff were involved as well as Guildfrord’s MP, Anne Milton and Blue Cap Pete Lambert. Mr Cinnamon, head bear and mascot at The Bear Garden promoted the day to his 3,000+ followers on his Facebook page, “Cinnamon Steiff”!