Forty special teddy bears that capture the sound of a voice or a heartbeat have been donated to East Cheshire Hospice. The cuddly creatures are offered to families of patients as a way of remembering lost loved ones. The bears have been provided by Oliver Abel’s Wish, a Cheshire-based charity run by Jill Wright and her close friend Nicola Bradley. It was set up after the loss of Jill’s son Oliver in 2022, at the age of 23.
A mission born from loss
Jill Wright said: “It was devastating to lose my son. I realised I had to do something and that’s when my mission started. The bears are popular and bring comfort to families. It’s easy to make a recording and you press a button whenever you want to hear their voice, or heartbeat.” The women rely on donations to fund the bears.
Some 1,500 bears with a recording device have been donated to around 40 hospitals and hospices, mostly in the north west. The voiced teddies began when bedside visits were restricted during Covid.
Personal comfort and wider impact
Jill’s own bear, given to her during a hospital stay before she lost Oliver, has provided comfort. She said: “I was coming home in the car without my son but had this little bear on my knee with his heart beating in it. I don't listen often. It's just knowing that it's there in my bedroom with me all the time. I’d be a different person without that little bear. I don't think I'd be as strong as I am now in coping with the loss. You've got pictures in the house and videos. But this little bear in my bedroom next to his picture has helped me so much. Hopefully, the bears will bring back treasured memories for families of East Cheshire Hospice patients.”
Fundraising milestone for hospice
Separately, Claritas choir celebrated their 20th anniversary in style with a sell-out concert at MADS Theatre. The Raising Voices to Raise Money event raised £2,598 for East Cheshire Hospice, a total boosted thanks to generous donations to cover venue hire. It brings the total raised in the last nine months to almost £13,000. Guests included singers from MADS and Macclesfield Ukulele Club. Claritas rehearse each Monday evening in the Hospice chapel. The group will soon start preparations for their winter concerts. More details from www.claritaschoir.com.
