Join teddy bear picnic world record attempt

The potential world record event looks set to take place on Wednesday, July 9 all over the country and has been organised by the national charity bibic.

Geoff Cummins, bibic’s Chief Executive, explained: “We’re asking teddy bear fans young and old to take part in a picnic on July 9. The event is part of a week of bear related fundraisers we have planned nationwide.

“The picnic can take place on the day and we’re hoping nurseries, mum and toddler groups, primary schools, families, individuals and even businesses will host an event. All we ask is people donate £1 each to bibic to take part and that the organisers send us the money collected as a cheque after the event.

“Anyone interested in being involved can contact us via telephone, email or social media to register and we will email them a free fundraising pack full of the ‘bear’ essentials on hosting an event including a template for creating your own teddy bear ears, pictures to colour in, posters and flyers to print off and ideas for games.”

bibic is a national charity offering practical help to families caring for children with conditions like autism, aspergers, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, developmental delay, brain injury, and specific learning difficulties like ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

It receives no government funding and relies on support and donations to provide the life-changing help needed by many children and their families.

Geoff said: “We’re not aware from our research of a similar event being held so we may well be setting a record for the most number of teddies all over the UK picnicking at the same time.

But we understand the record for the largest teddy bears picnic in one place, which was attended by 33,573 bears with their owners, was at Dublin Zoo in 1995.

“While we appreciate that might be a bit ambitious for us this year, we are planning on making this an annual fundraiser for us and it would be great to beat the record at some time in the future at our flagship event venue. It’s something to aim for!”

The charity has a national assessment centre in Langport. Its therapists work closely with families nationwide to create a therapy programme, which provides them with the skills and strategies to support their child or children.

Geoff added: “We specialise in understanding the causes of challenging behaviour and can even offer support if your child has not been diagnosed with a condition.”

The bibic teddy bears picnic is part of a week of furry-themed fundraisers the charity is hosting. They include a bear share for people who would like to pass their bears on to children that might need toys or for them to be sold in aid of bibic and a social media campaign for celebrities and members of the public to tweet about their bear friends.

People who aren’t able to host a picnic on July 9 can have one on any other day during the weekend as well.

If you would like to support bibic’s work and can’t take part in this fundraiser but wish to make a £5 donation to the charity, please text KIDS02 £5 to 70070 or for a £10 donation text KIDS02 £10 to 70070.

For more information, please call bibic on 01458 253344, visit www.bibic.org.uk, follow the charity on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bibic_charity or log on to http://on.fb.me/18Cg8j2.

Report and picture contributed by Porcupine PR.