The end of last year, 2020, CMIRC presented the patients at Burma Children Medical Fund B.K. Kee Patient House with Teddy Trekkers in hand painted, ribbon tied bags (left). There were some teddies still looking for a home, some in need of someone to cuddle them at night. Since no new patients were coming into the B.K. Kee Patient House due to Covid restrictions, we decided to send them to Mae Sot where they would be loved by young patients there.
All the patients at the Chiang Mai B.K. Kee Patient House were involved with the goal of giving the Teddies a proper send-off to Mae Sot. Paper carrier bags were handed out for the patients to paint a picture and personalize, together art paper to paint an individual picture.
Time went by and soon the teddies had been packed into their gift bags with a signed picture and sealed with a colourful ribbon (right). As there is no regular patient transfer between the B.K.Kee Patient House and Mae Sot at this time, large boxes were packed with Teddies and posted to Mae Sot.
The Thai postal system is brilliant. Thirty hours after being posted from San Sai, Chiang Mai they arrived in Mae Sot, near a war-torn border with Burma where other delivery services fear to go. Bill Pierce, the project champion for the B.K. Kee Patient House and myself received messages of excitement and true appreciation for the Teddies; in fact their warmth and excitement was overwhelming.
This is not the end of the story of the Teddy Trekkers. They originally immigrated from Australia, having been made by loving ladies there who brought them to Thailand in their luggage. The days of Aussies visiting Thailand on holiday are long gone, but our mission is to continue with the project of giving Teddies to patients who are alone, separated from their parents, family, and loved ones. The process of hand painted signed bags, with individual pictures painted by B.K.Kee patients will continue.
So, where do the teddies of the future come from? This becomes a plea, a reach out for support for you to donate to CMIRC Teddy Trekkers, for Bill and Nick’s attention, a Teddy, or more. You can ask other Rotary Clubs to add their support. Please bear in mind, from a safety aspect, these are predominately going to children. In sending to CMIRC for customs, it’s a gift or of nominal value. It's better to send Teddies via the postal system rather than using DHL/FedEx/UPS. Somehow Thai Post is kinder about packages of nominal value when it comes to collecting customs duty. Our postal address is:
Chiang Mai International Rotary Club
P O Box 76, Phrasingh Post Office
Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
Below are some photos of the individual pictures painted by B.K. Kee patients and the presentation of Teddies in December, 2020. Please help us in making someone’s good night a happy one.
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