TLC Appeal - Teddies for Loving Care

In November this year the TLC Appeal in Nottinghamshire will be four years old. Since our humble beginnings in 2005 in the City Hospital we have expanded to include all of Nottinghamshire’s hospitals including NHS Direct.

The charity has been well received by doctors and nurses who when asked have stated, ‘The bears are a tool and not just a toy, they help us to do our work. To the children who are the recipients the colourful bears become a very special friend.’

The charity is fully supported by the PGM and the President W Bro Steve Mather lends his valuable time, for which much thanks. However without the generosity of the members of lodges across the Province and support from the general public at our TLC events we would not have been able to sustain the provision of bears on the scale we have. Also many thanks must go to the members of Radcliffe Lodge for putting up with my constant appeals for help and, in particular, to those members who make up the committee – W. Bros. Bassford, James, Noonan, Osborne and Woodhead. Many thanks also to Bro. Peter Olko for managing the northern end of our operations.

In addition to supplying bears we have also been able to donate to the Children’s A&E Reception at QMC a ‘Bubble Fish Display’ which has a great effect on calming children as they wait for treatment. This is an item the unit had wanted for some years but were unable to fund. This year we have also donated £500 to the Mayor of Rushcliffe, W Bro Cooper, for his appeal for a Ultrasonic Cardiac Monitor for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at QMC. This is a non-invasive monitor for critically ill children and replaces the need for invasive needles that cause additional stress to vulnerable young patients.

This simple charity really personifies ‘Freemasons in the Community’. Every teddy bear issued has a label on it which says, ‘Donated by local Freemasons’ and it has been calculated that every bear issued reaches ten people in the direct family concerned. Also, through the many talks about TLC given to local groups such as Probus, British Legion, Church Organisations, Singles Clubs and even a Beaver Cub Pack and at our TLC social events we are able to communicate the wider aspects of freemasonry.

So far we have raised approaching £40,000 but to sustain our work we do need to raise money year on year. We wish to do this without detracting unduly from the general donations to charity made by lodges. I ask, therefore, for the support of all lodges in the Province. Your support could be in the form of an annual donation of £50-100, donating the proceeds of a raffle, hosting a talk on TLC [in the Temple or at Festive board] at which our badges & key rings can be sold, or donation of the proceeds from a social event. Such support would aid our efforts considerably and reduce the burden on those presenting talks.

Finally, I must record my fulsome thanks to my wife, Jill, who has supported the TLC in so many ways, turning out for events, organising buffets, selling on stalls, ‘harvesting’ raffle prizes from friends and shops and putting up with my absence whilst I spread the word! Likewise, many, many thanks to the ladies of Radcliffe Lodge for their unstinting support and efforts at TLC events and to the many brethren who have shown me great personal kindness and support.

W Bro Graham Riche Chairman TLC Nottinghamshire

If you wish to help TLC or want more information about the charity I can be contacted on: Tel: 07786226109, email: graham.riche@concourse.uk.com