A small gathering of teddy bears took place at the beginning of December, and a review of teddies with happy new homes. A teddy's life is one of giving joy, cuddles, warmth and being there so you are never alone. Teddy bears have become an important part of what CMIRC offers to the patients, both young and old, of the Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) -- both those who lodge at the B.K. Kee Patient House with their caregivers for their treatments in Chiang Mai and those who can be treated in Mae Sot, the headquarters of BCMF.
In the past, the teddies came from loving ladies in Australia who fashioned them by hand and brought them to Thailand during their holidays. An example is pictured right. We thought we had a lifetime supply, but sadly the Covid travel restrictions, high cost of postage and insane Thai customs duties mean that we've had to look locally for manufactured teddies. We found them to be of reasonable quality and very inexpensive.
A big thank you to all who made donations to the the Teddy appeal and have made it possible to give teddies to patients till the end of February 2022.
In December twenty teddies packed their bags and went to the Mae Sot clinic, by the efficient sleigh of the Thai Post Office, while four new members of B K Kee House received their teddy bags by Santa's sleigh.
This appeal has been truly inspiring for all involved, from the patients, the medical team, caregivers and volunteers. It’s has been a time of joyous rewards.
A reminder of thanks, firstly the donors giving teddies, then the Teddy Travel Bags that are painted by B K Kee patients with a happy picture to go with each teddy and last but not least for the very important Thai Post Office that manages to deliver huge boxes of teddies for less than U.S.$10 each to a war-torn region, rife with Covid in less than two days. (They also deliver motorcycles and durian, but that's another story.)
So from all the Teddies waiting to go to new homes, we wish you a Happy New Year 2022.
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