Teddy bears treat sick children

Each year, the Challenge Roth international triathlon competition is the highlight in the Memmert sporting year. Not only the athletes are on their feet from the early hours on this day. Many Memmert employees are involved on the course as stewards or are cheering on friends and colleagues for many hours. In 2012, the footballers from SV Abenberg, organised by Björn Reif, ran a barbecue on the marathon course for the first time. Christiane Riefler-Karpa had sponsored the football team with a set of track suits. As a thank you, the team devoted themselves to a good cause as the proceeds from the sales benefited the children’s aid association “Kinderhilfe Eckental”, with their “Trösterteddy” cuddly toy campaign. 800 grilled sausages, 400 bread rolls and cold drinks were sold, donations were collected and at the end there was a proud sum of 1,000 Euros, which was equalled by a donation from the Memmert managing director.

Hospitals gratefully accept the teddy bears

The teddy bears are intended to soothe children in those first, often frightening moments in the hospital, in an ambulance or A+E unit. 72 Memmert teddy bears were sent to each of the Rescue Coordination Centres of the BRK Schwabach and Heilsbronn, the Johanniter-Unfallhilfe Schwabach-Roth and the Kreisklinik Roth. In December, head of marketing Katja Rosenke was informed in person in the Kreisklinik Roth by nursing care manager Dieter Debus about how often the sweet and cuddly bear Ralphi helps out as comforting emergency helper during the admission of small patients or after an operation in the Kreisklinik Roth. Many children are understandably afraid if they are treated in hospital for the first time, everything is unfamiliar and they are not easily soothed by their parents. This is where Ralphi comes in. He goes with the children to their treatments, helps with their convalescence and is allowed to go home with them at the end, of course. If Ralphi is able to distract a worried mother here and there, that’s an added side effect, of course, explains Dieter Debus with a smile. He stresses that the high-quality teddy bears are not given away blindly, but only when they are really needed. By the way Ralphi, who normally sits in Katja Rosenke’s office, has also comforted the son of a Memmert colleague when he knocked his head on the corner of a table. Isn’t it nice when little things are enough to have a big effect?

The ‘Kinderhilfe Eckental‘ is always happy to receive donations. More information is available on their website.