A giant-sized teddy bear, called Nolie Bear, was raffled from Mitchell’s Plain District Hospital. The funds will be used to make the hospital’s peadiatic ward more child-friendly, said Doctor Thomas Crede.
Nolie Bear is the brain child of Shane Noland and his wife Ali Noland. The couple started a foundation called Charity Chums, which assits community-based organisations, especially those supporting women, children and the elderly.
Nolie Bear was intended to act as a mascot for Charity Chums, and be used as a fund-raiser for various projects.
It took about six months to make and was then transported to Cape Town. Unfortunately before their dream could come true, Mr Noland died of the complications of leukaemia, said Dr Crede.
“It was his wife’s wish that good should come out of Nolie Bear, and that his legacy should continue. The subsequent donation of Nolie Bear to the Mitchell’s Plain Hospital Facility Board resulted in a decision to use the bear as a fund-raiser to improve the play area at the Mitchell’s Plain District Hospital paediatric ward,” said Dr Crede.
A raffle raised over R32 000. The funds from the raffle will be used to enhance the paediatric ward at the hospital, making it child-friendly, said Dr Crede.
The winner donated the bear to Safeline, an Grassy-Park-based NGO which helps child victims of abuse in disadvantaged communities.
Safeline’s Director, Rocelle Philander, who is also the chairperson of the Mitchell’s Plain Hospital Facility Board, said: “Nolie brings comfort to many children facing trauma and victims of sexual abuse. The big eyes are a comfort to many as well as the staff who sits with the bear during work.”