Veronica Weatherhead, a nurse from the UK, has done several missions with Mercy Ships in the past few years. Having seen so many youngsters recovering in the wards after surgeries and realizing they don’t own any toys, she wanted to provide some comfort for them.
When she returned to England a few years ago, she asked her sister, Rebecca Bond, to help organize some women to make teddy bears to send to the ship. It turned out to be a much larger undertaking than they first thought, and they were struggling to attract enough women to help.
Then they were happily surprised with an opportunity to have a tiny booth at the Southampton Boat Show. They decorated the entire booth with the brightly colored teddy bears. Buyers could choose an African name for the purchased teddy, and the name was placed on a Mercy Ships luggage tag attached to the bear’s neck. The response was enormous!
Publicity from the show brought volunteers who now help to make teddy bears that sit on every bed in the hospital ward – awaiting hugs from children having surgery onboard. These toys bring hours of joy and comfort during recovery, and they travel home with the youngsters once they are released from Mercy Ships care.
“We have such a good time doing this for the children,” said Veronica. “And a new batch of labeled teddies is due (at the ship) any day.”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell & Veronica Weatherhead
When she returned to England a few years ago, she asked her sister, Rebecca Bond, to help organize some women to make teddy bears to send to the ship. It turned out to be a much larger undertaking than they first thought, and they were struggling to attract enough women to help.
Then they were happily surprised with an opportunity to have a tiny booth at the Southampton Boat Show. They decorated the entire booth with the brightly colored teddy bears. Buyers could choose an African name for the purchased teddy, and the name was placed on a Mercy Ships luggage tag attached to the bear’s neck. The response was enormous!
Publicity from the show brought volunteers who now help to make teddy bears that sit on every bed in the hospital ward – awaiting hugs from children having surgery onboard. These toys bring hours of joy and comfort during recovery, and they travel home with the youngsters once they are released from Mercy Ships care.
“We have such a good time doing this for the children,” said Veronica. “And a new batch of labeled teddies is due (at the ship) any day.”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell & Veronica Weatherhead
Veronica Weatherhead, volunteer nurse from the UK, worked in Admissions during her time on the Africa Mercy in Sierra Leone.
(Photo courtesy of Veronica Weatherhead)
Veronica Weatherhead and her sister Rebecca Bond (R) are surrounded by teddy bears that later sailed to Sierra Leone for the children who are admitted to the hospital wards.
Orthopedic patient Martha Jawaneh was happy to receive her teddy bear whenshe was admitted to the hospital ward.
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