A couple touched by prostate cancer say they were humbled by the response to a cuddly fundraiser for the charity that supported them.
Shop owners Jeannie Alderdice and John Wycherley said they cannot banish the disease entirely, but supporting men affected by it was vitally important – and raising awareness could save lives.
They appealed for teddy bears and auctioned and raffled off them at Sidmouth Gifts on Saturday to raise £463 for Prostate Cancer UK.
“We had one lovely bear donated by a local lady,” said Jeannie. “It had been her husband’s bear, but he very recently passed away. I put it on the Facebook page and said how sad I was. One of my friends donated £50 if we could reunite the teddy with his family - and I’m pleased to say we did. Not a dry eye in the house.”
Jeannie and John’s friend, Sam Abrahams, the musical director of La La Choirs, led a raffle and some of the bears that were not auctioned were still being sold off this week.
They sold more than £170 worth of raffle tickets, with the top prize, a sought-after Silver Tag teddy, won by Portsmouth resident Jon Coleman.
Jeannie said: “I couldn’t have done any of this without the amazing support of La La Choirs, the people who knitted, crocheted and donated teddies, donations from the public, people who bought the bears and the Herald.
“I feel very humble. Thank you all so much.”
She is now thinking about backing the charity again with an over-40s’ disco night.
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