A Maldon Masonic Lodge has donated £1,000 to an Essex charity which provides teddy bears to children in hospital or traumatic situations.

The TLC (Teddies Loving Care) charity provides the soft toys to youngsters as a comforting cuddly friend at key moments of potential stress in a child's life, including at times when they are about to undergo medical treatments or procedures in local hospitals including Broomfield, Basildon and Southend. The bears are even carried by the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance crews for any children who are involved in traumatic incidents, including as passengers in car accidents and when a parent is taken ill.

Ian Watson, Treasurer of the TLC Appeal for Essex, said: "Receiving donations such as these is directly contributing to the comfort provided to young children by the bears. This donation was especially generous.

"The scheme was first launched in Essex in 2001 and has now expanded both nationally and internationally, as far as New Zealand. Around three million bears have now been given to children across the country.

"Here in Essex, we now give out around 25,000 bears every year."

Members of Beeleigh Abbey Masonic Lodge presented the donation to Mr Watson at the Masons' Maldon headquarters in Cromwell Hill on Wednesday, February 16, after members listened to an informative talk about the ongoing work of Teddies Loving Care.

Martin Harvey, Charity Steward of the Lodge, said: "A £500 donation was proposed by one of our members, Andy Fusher, which was agreed by members then the Master at the time, Gary Clatworthy, said any monies raised at his Ladies' Festival would also go to the charity.

"The festival managed to match the £500 by raffling teddies at the event."

One Maldon resident told Nub News how her daughter, now aged 21, received two of the teddies as a young child at Basildon Hospital, to help calm her when she was facing medical treatments she found very frightening.

Paula Spenceley told Nub News: "My youngest daughter had some admissions to hospital to treat an illness she suffered as a young child. My memory of how important the teddies were in helping her cope with the situation – and actually the impact of that kindness on me as a worried parent at the time – has never left me.

"In fact, my daughter has kept the teddies to this day. I'm sure that to her they are very much a symbol of kindness and hope."