Cumbernauld girl sells own teddies for Yorkhill

The nine-year-old, who lives in Westerwood, wanted to give something back to Yorkhill Hospital, where she has been treated on numerous occasions as she has complex bowel and kidney problems. She decided to buy books for the hospital by holding an unusual charity event.

Friends and family had given Emily teddy bears for her hospital visits, but things were getting a bit crowded. “Emily had 160 bears, we really needed to have a clear out,” said mum Sharon.

The clear out came in the form of a teddy bear’s picnic on the front lawn. “With it being the Jubilee we thought that was quite a British thing to do,” added Sharon.

With help from big brother Cameron (10) the event offered an “adopt a teddy” scheme, where in exchange for a donation visitors would be given a teddy, complete with adoption certificate. The response was tremendous.

Sharon added: “People came from all over the estate, all over the area really. We think we’ll be donating about £1000 worth of books.”

These will go to a new library Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation to the families of Yorkhill patients. “They’re building a library there and Emily will have her photo on display near the books she has donated. We’re planning to keep donating books too, adding a few more every time Emily goes to the hospital, so it’s a long-term project for us.”