CHILDREN at Albury hospital were surprised with teddy bears on Random Acts of Kindness day yesterday.
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A life-sized teddy named Dougal was guided through the ward by Albury MP Greg Aplin, where they handed out mini-Dougal teddys to kids in hospital.
The initiative was put together by the Cancer Council and is part of Daffodil Day, which takes place this Friday.
Patient Tyrus Harrison, 7, received a gardener and a super hero bear from Dougal, which will add to his growing collection.
“I have 10 teddys and the gardener bear is my second smallest bear,” Tyrus said.
Cancer Council advocate Jenny Jensen helped hand out teddys at the hospital and said they could make all the difference.
“It’s a real pleasure to walk around handing out teddys to the kids and see the smiles come to their faces,” she said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals because I lost my son to leukaemia when he was 24 and to have something like that come into their day and see their faces light up is just brilliant.”
Mr Aplin said the day was an opportunity to make people happy and to raise awareness of the Cancer Council’s work.
“The little Dougal bears bring a smile to the children’s faces while they are in hospital and it gives them something they can keep,” he said.
“And with Daffodil Day coming up, it’s an opportunity to let people know that they too can get involved by buying a daffodil and supporting the Cancer Council.”
The Cancer Council hopes to raise $3 million in NSW on Daffodil Day, with all the money going towards cancer research.
Cancer Council’s communication and program co-ordinator Mel Nixon said the Border got the best daffodils.
“Daffodils on the Border are supplied by a lovely Albury family who pick them the day before, so they are really fresh and are some of the best daffodils in the state,” she said.
Mr Aplin encouraged the community to get involved in the day as well as Relay for Life and Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.