After 31 years of great work, there's so much more to come from Charlie Bear
Sep 28 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal
ONE of the region’s best-loved charities has become a pivotal part of the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC).
Hundreds of patients in the North East have been helped by Charlie Bear for Cancer Care, which is based at the NCCC.
The charity was set up in 1978 by Morpeth housewife and cancer patient Daisy Clark and her husband Charles.
They sold handmade teddy bears to raise £1m to buy the region’s first whole-body scanner to assist cancer diagnosis.
Daisy was awarded an MBE for her work and when she died in 1995, her name was incorporated into the charity’s name – The Daisy Appeal – before it was changed to its current title. The Journal got behind the appeal, encouraging readers to hold their own charity events.
Within a few years, the Charlie Bear appeal reached its target, despite the death of Daisy’s husband Charles from a heart attack.
The charity has gone from strength to strength, continuing to raise vital funds to help support patients with the devastating illness. Since the charity began it has raised millions of pounds.
Throughout the decades scores of fund-raising activities have been set up in the North East.
Grandmother Yvonne Moore is celebrating 10 years of volunteering with the charity, after reading a story in The Journal asking for Charlie Bear helpers.
Since volunteering, the 73-year-old has helped raise an estimated £15,000 for Charlie Bear.
She spends her time working as a volunteer in the recently opened Charlie Bear shop in the NCCC, as well as selling raffle tickets at various fundraising events such as the charity’s Christmas Fair.
Mrs Moore, of Gosforth, Newcastle, said: "I always knew I wanted to work for a charity when I retired. It was important to me to work for an organisation that benefits my community and when I saw the story about Charlie Bear volunteers, I felt it was just right for me.
"I like that it is a local charity and supports sufferers of all forms of cancer. I know that the money raised helps to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives and it is nice to think that I have been able to do something to help make that difference."
Before relocation to the Freeman Hospital this year, Mrs Moore and Charlie Bear were based at Newcastle General Hospital.
She added: "The Charlie Bear stall was based in the reception area for cancer sufferers.
"It was a joy to work there as you’d be able to chat to people waiting to be called for treatment or taken home. During the festive period, we would hold a raffle and we’d get staff and patients from all over the hospital involved.
"We were able to become a real talking point and make a connection with people. I know they valued that and we could give them something to look forward to during their visit."
Christine McGreal, charity chairperson and directorate manager for NCCC, said: "We are always delighted and grateful when people volunteer to help Charlie Bear. To see Yvonne reach a milestone like this is truly rewarding and I hope she stays with us for another 10 years."
Since its humble beginnings with the sale of handmade teddy bears, a huge amount of money has been raised and the charity has contributed to the purchase of many items.
Pieces of art, seating, materials and a selection of equipment, such as patient positioning devices used during the delivery of radiotherapy, have been funded by Charlie Bear to improve the environment where treatment is delivered.
Find out how you can help Charlie Bear by going to www.charliebearforcancercare.org.uk, or by calling Angie Taylor on (0191) 213 8615. You can also donate to Charlie Bear by logging on to http://www.justgiving.com/charliebear/. Charlie Bear’s registered charity number is 1057213.
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