A GROUP of friends who drove a coach full of teddies for Ukrainian refugees earlier this year have recently returned to Weston following their second trip.
In March, train driver and bus enthusiast David Fricker, with partner Neil and friends Helen and Michal, from Poland, collected 7,000 teddy bears in ten days for Ukrainian children fleeing war.
He drove the toys more than 1,000 miles across the European continent to Záhony, in Hungary, at the Ukrainian border.
For 49 days the group, called Teddy Busz, made sure almost every refugee child at the train station received a 'bear of hope'. They also delivered to a hospital in Ukraine and helped pets too.
On October 11, the group travelled in a transit van back to the border where for five days 500 toy bears, hundreds of supplies and home comforts such as chocolate, toiletries and Christmas decorations were delivered.
The 40-year-old was in Hungary shortly after the invasion of Ukraine and saw hundreds of refugees arriving in the country across the river Tisza.
David said when he saw a man at the train station handing bears to children, he first thought of the idea to do the same but on a much larger scale.
He said many youngsters carried 'little more than a rucksack on their backs' but when they were given a teddy bear, their face 'just lit up' in a memory 'that will probably stay with me forever'.
"Helping to support the children is the least we can do and even though it's something small like a toy, the joy that brings to their faces is immense," David added.
"We've also helped to transform the refugee camp area into somewhere a whole lot better, with a crèche, play area and somewhere nice to relax for the parents.
"It gives the kids something to do because it can be an extremely tormenting and frightening time for them."
David, Neil, Helen and Michal held a stall in Waitrose car park last week to finish any donations.
They met with Weston mayor Cllr Sonia Russe who delivered her own letter to the mayor of Zahony and a box of Weston rock.
She thanked László Helmeczi for his hands-on effort in welcoming all the people fleeing war.
Cllr Russe said: "Our hearts and minds are with you and those you have been helping to ease some of their pain in leaving behind their homeland and loved ones.
"Weston has admiration for you and your fellow citizens who have been providing support to the Ukrainian refugees as they pass through your town to a point of safety."
David returned to Weston on Friday, October 21, to visit Weston's mayor and deliver a box of local produce from Mr Helmeczi.
He said: "This was only possible thanks to the kindness, help and support of so many amazing people who all made vital individual contributions to make this journey happen for a second time.
"Our focus now will change for the winter on helping the local community in Záhony more, as they face an immediate and serious crisis of the elderly population."
To donate, visit the Teddy Busz GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/teddybusz.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here