IT’S not every bear that ever there was - but 10,000 is still a pretty impressive target to hit when you aim to hand over teddies to some of the world’s most deprived children.

Debbie Murray, estate manager at Glanusk, Crickhowell set herself the target of collecting 10,000 teddies as part of a national effort by the Teddy Trust and has reached her milestone thanks, she says, to the kindness and generosity of people throughout Monmouthshire and South Powys.

Debbie stated, ‘The Teddy Trust had a fantastic 2017 and we thought it couldn’t get any better. But it has! Teddies arrive every week from children and their families as people get to hear about the appeal and we get such lovely little notes and letters with the teddies.’

Ellie Targett of the Leominster-based Teddy Trust added, ‘Debbie has become a very good friend to us all at the Teddy Trust. It’s thanks to all her friends and the people in her area who have helped to make all that we do possible.

‘We never underestimate the healing power of Teddy and we never forget that so much compassion and sheer goodwill exists in the people reach out with a simple gift. The love that these teddies bring is boundless.’

‘We are about to send our fourth shipment to Syria, this shipment will bring the total number sent to around 45,000. That’s a lot of children around Syria who will have the comfort of their own special teddy.’

Debbie’s teddies are also set to be the new best friends of children as far afield as Harare, Romania and South Africa.

Anyone with a teddy ready to raise a smile can add him or her to the army of teddies awaiting dispatch by contacting www.teddytrust.org.uk or by sending teddies to The Teddy Trust, Kingsland Post Office, Kingsland, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9QS.