› Teddy bear donation will help children in hospital

24 January 2022

Ashburton Hospital has gratefully received a generous donation of teddy bears.

“We wish to express our appreciation for the lovely teddy bears given to us by Whitcoulls Ashburton for the comfort of children who have been admitted to hospital,” says Associate Clinical Charge Nurse, Acute and Inpatient, Ashburton and Rural Health Services Margaret Anderson. Customers to their store in the lead-up to Christmas are given the opportunity to donate $10 for a teddy bear for children presenting to Ashburton Hospital over the Christmas/New Year holiday season. “Ashburton Hospital is grateful for the generosity of Whitcoulls and their customers in making this gesture which has become an annual occurrence over the past 10 years,” Children can experience stress when they are admitted to hospital, and the giving of such a toy can help to distract the child’s attention from the treatment they are receiving, she says.

From left, Elfreda Dixon of Whitcoulls Ashburton presenting teddy bears to Associate Clinical Charge Nurse, Acute and Inpatient, Ashburton and Rural Health Services Margaret Anderson