In an effort to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Smyths Toys sold the charity’s official mascot, Bernard Bear, in stores and online over the Christmas period.

The toy retailer helped to raise £150,000 for the charity, and to celebrate this, Mark and Lauren Eakin visited Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to present a cheque on behalf of Smyths Toys.

Bernard Bear is a fluffy light brown hand-made bear that represents bravery and strength, just like all the children and young people that go to GOSH every day.

Bernard sold for just £9.99 and made the perfect Christmas present.

The money raised will support GOSH’s vital work as well as fund the hospital’s most urgent needs from pioneering research, state of the art medical equipment and the rebuilding and refurbishing of the hospital.

The charity hopes to support services for families and patients including parent accommodation, so children’s mums and dads can stay close by when their children are being treated at GOSH.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Smyths Toys again and it’s fantastic to see how staff and customers took Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Bernard Bear, into their hearts this Christmas,” GOSH charity corporate partnerships director Amit Aggarwal said.

“We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support; the money they have helped to raise will make a real difference in helping to support seriously ill children from across the UK who are treated at Great Ormond Street.”

Sinead Byrne, joint head of marketing at Smyths Toys added: “Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is an amazing cause, and we are thrilled that we got to work with them again and that the money we have raised from selling Bernard Bear on their behalf will help to make a difference.”

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