That's the message going out loud and clear this week as a Ross-shire enthusiast launches a campaign to produce 500 teddy bears to gift children who don't enjoy the luxury of toys.

Wendy Nganasurian, who lives on the Black Isle, hopes to rally scores of supporters to follow a simple pattern to produce the loveable little bears for children looked after in a hospital in the East African nation of Malawi.

Teddies for Tragedies was conceived in the late 1980s. The scheme encourages supporters to follow the knitting or crochet pattern to produce a teddy which is then given to a child who would greatly appreciate it.

The first children to receive these teddies were in hospitals in Sudan. One of the doctors treating them said, "The gift of a teddy seemed to do more good than the medicines."

Since then teddies have gone all over the world, wherever there are children suffering because of poverty, fighting, hardship or natural disasters.

While food and medicines are primary needs, many of these children have so little a toy of their own is greatly appreciated.

Wendy Nganasurian is pictured with a recently completed batch of Teddies, ready for dispatch to Malawi. Ian Rhind

Wendy Nganasurian is hoping to gather 500 teddies in the Highlands and will pass them to the Raven Trust who will be taking them to a hospital in Malawi.

The free pattern can be found at www.teddiesfortragedies.org/pattern.htm. Said Wendy, "It is important to follow the pattern and stuffing instructions because these teds need to be sufficiently robust to withstand a great deal of play. Imagine a child who had only one toy and how that toy would be constantly loved and handled."

Since the teddies have little financial value they are less likely to be stolen or taken by adults. Each teddy has their own 'shoebag' to live in and if folk can't knit or crochet but could make some bags that is equally helpful.

Completed teds or any spare wool or bag materials can be posted or delivered to Easter Kinbeachie Lodge, By Culbokie, Ross-shire IV7 8LS.

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