Paddington Bear says "Bring your Own Bear" to a series of fab May and June events in aid of Action Medical Research for Children

Everyone's favourite marmalade-sandwich-scoffing bear needs your help. A series of events are planned in aid of the Action Medical Research for Children charity, in May and June 2014. 

Paddington Bear is asking nurseries and infant schools across the UK to help raise vital funds for his favourite charity, Action Medical Research, by taking part in its annual Bring your Bear event.

It’s very easy to join in, just choose a day in May or June when the children bring their teddy bear, or a favourite soft toy, along with them for the day. Each child brings in a £2 donation with their bear to support vital research to help sick babies and children. 

Many Bring your Bear participants organise a whole day of fun activities, such as reading Paddington stories or holding a teddy bears’ picnic. Children can also take part in a drawing competition with a chance to win a visit from Paddington himself.

Every nursery that registers will receive a free fundraising pack, including a poster and Paddington stickers, and access to an online toolkit full of useful materials. These include tips on linking the event to the Early Years curriculum and activity sheets to download.

Jemma Jones, event organiser at Action Medical Research, says: “Bring your Bear is all about putting the ‘fun’ into fundraising and is the perfect event to get children excited about helping others. Every year we get fantastic feedback about what the children have got up to. Please join in and help us – and, of course, Paddington – make 2014 a ‘bear-illiant’ year.”

Action Medical Research is currently funding research into many conditions, including preventing early labour and developing treatments for babies affected by premature birth, helping children with disabilities and tackling rare diseases for which there are currently no cures.  

To register and receive your free fundraising kit visit action.org.uk/bringyourbear