Fundraisers do their bit to support Charlie Bear appeal

Sep 30 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

KIND-HEARTED fundraisers throughout the North East have been doing their bit to support cancer sufferers in the region.

The Journal is supporting the Charlie Bear for Cancer Care charity, which was set up in 1978 by Morpeth housewife and cancer patient Daisy Clark and her husband Charles, who sold handmade teddy bears to raise £1m to buy the region’s first whole-body scanner.

Within years, the Charlie Bear appeal reached its target, despite the death of Daisy’s husband Charles from a heart attack. 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 charity has gone from strength to strength, continuing to raise vital funds to help support patients with the potentially-fatal illness.

Throughout the decades scores of fundraising activities have been set up in the North East.

Janice Mee, 45, of Kingston Park, Newcastle, was inspired to raise money for the charity after losing her mum to the disease six years ago.

Over the past three years, the bank employee has organised prize draws, taken part in collections across the city and encouraged colleagues to donate to Charlie Bear.

Ms Mee, who has children Hannah, 21, and Thomas, 14, had her fundraising efforts matched by her employer, Barclays Bank, where the company doubles what she raises up to a value of £750, three times a year.

She said: “My mam went to Newcastle General Hospital for treatment and I’ve seen first hand how patients and families suffering from this awful disease can benefit from charities like Charlie Bear, who raise money to help them.