A group of four men have taken unpaid leave of absence from their jobs in Somerset – in order to deliver a bus full of 3,000 teddy to Ukrainian children.
Two weeks ago, David Fricker 39, a train driver from Weston-super-Mare, was in Budapest helping with packing food and toiletry parcels and sorting clothing donations with the Hungarian Reform Charity at Nyugati railway station.
But the most emotional aspect of his time there was seeing the children arriving onto the platform with few possessions.
It sparked an idea to give them something beyond basic necessities: teddy bears.
“The thing which upset me most at the railway station was seeing the children arriving with nothing more than their school bag,” David told Jam Press.
“Yet the light on their faces from the few free teddy bears we could give them would melt the coldest heart.
“[Once back home in the UK], I had the brainwave of trying to get hold of a coach and a few friends, filling it with teddy bears and trying to bring some joy and comfort to the children.
“Trucks are in short supply now and in need for medicines and essential supplies at the borders. The biggest thing I can drive is a coach.
“I also wanted to have each bear with a label of love and support written by local children.”
After coming up with the idea – named the Teddy Busz – David got in touch with friends in the transport industry and was able to secure a 53-seater bus.
Just 10 days later, he set off on Sunday (13 March) for Hungary, where he will deliver the toys and other supplies including children’s clothing.
He is joined by Mike Sherston, 42, who also works as a train driver, Neil Sansam, 41, a telecoms engineer, and Adam Smith, 38, who works as an NHS training coordinator – with all four men taking unpaid leave from work for 10 days to travel to and from Hungary.
Armed with an estimated 3,000 teddy bears, the group are currently in Budapest and are travelling to Fehégyarmat, a town close to the Ukraine border, where they will drop off the goods.
The toys were donated by friends, family, businesses, local schools and the community – with children asked to write the messages to go with the teddies.
David also secured sponsorships from companies including Brittany Ferries, Waitrose and TK Maxx to assist with transport costs.
The group are continuing to fundraise via their Facebook page, Teddy Busz, to help with fuel costs – with any remaining funds going to relief efforts.
David said: “This project has gone from idea to being on the ferry in 10 days.
“I’ve been totally overwhelmed by messages of love and support, kind sponsorship and donations of bears.
“We’ve probably had over 6,000 items to sift, sort and pack in itemised, grouped packages for customs and distribution purposes.
“The benefit of taking a coach is that the items don’t all have to be unloaded in one warehouse at one time, getting in the way of other items. We can be effectively a mobile warehouse.”
As for the reason behind their noble mission? They simply hope it will put a smile on the children’s faces.
David added: “We hope to achieve some reassurance for those children who’ve left everything behind that they aren’t alone in the world, that people all over the world are thinking of them, and sending the love that children need in these times.”
