A teddy for an abused child
Auto Alpina Mini Boksburg, joined the Teddy Run in collecting teddies and convoyed to Carnival City on Saturday, September 7.
Mini drivers, bikers, and people both young and old from all over Gauteng, gathered to enjoy music performances and games, as teddies were collected and money was raised for abused children.
Ricardo da Conceicao (23) is Mini’s biggest fan, and has been taking part in their charity drives ever since he got his Mini.
While each person donated one, two or three teddies, da Conceicao collected around 223 teddies as well as a pram, bicycle and a number of toys for the abused children.
“It feels amazing and I feel happy and when I give back to the community and help where I can,” he said.
Natasha Ras, Boksburg Kidz Clinic manager says the event creates fantastic awareness around a subject that is still very taboo.
Captain Hilda Johns, from the Provincial Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) says that children who are abused become traumatised and are afraid to describe their ordeal, especially to police.
“The teddies give them a sense of comfort and security, and we are then able to gain their trust,” she said.
Johns says that child abuse and sexual assault cases in Gauteng are still very high.
Elma Lindhaut is the founder of Teddy Run, which was launched six years ago.
“Our main aim is to create awareness in the community, where people will start standing up against abuse, especially against children,” said Lindhaut.
Andries Ferreira, the Teddy Run organiser, says this years event was a great success.
“The Teddy Run is over, and we collected 1 573 teddies and other soft toys. The turnout could have been better, but for the first event in Gauteng, it was good,” he says.
Ferreira says Carnival City casino was very happy with the layout, safety and the orderly fashion in which the event was conducted, and has given them the green light for next year’s Teddy Run.
Lindhaut says that to date, 24 000 teddies have been collected, and distributed through the Teddy Run, excluding the teddies collected this year.
She adds that the teddies collected this year, will go to police stations, informal settlements, old age homes and to people living with disabilities.
“The elderly also need love. We will also identify small organisations that don’t receive funding and support and donate teddies and a portion of the monies that have been collected,” she said.
Lindhaut says the rest of the money will go towards the planning of the next Teddy Run.
Various organisations and units from Gauteng who specialise with children and cases of neglect, abuse and sexual offences, were present at the Teddy Run to educate the public on these issues.
