Yo Team Ted,

Amongst all the busy work that I have been doing at Newlife, I took a trip down to visit one of our most recent supporters. However, he isn’t just any ordinary supporter – he is a King!

King Uther Pendragon to be precise, from the BBC fantasy drama, Merlin. Ok so he isn’t a real king but even his real identity, Anthony Head, is a pretty cool dude! Let me tell you how the day went…

I hopped into the car and off I went…

…and jumped straight onto the shoulders of the man himself. Anthony didn’t mind, in fact we got on really great and he asked me all about Newlife and what I do. I told him some of the stories that I know about disabled kidz gettin’ a tough time and he was totally shocked. “So”, I said, “the Ted and Head connection must carry on fighting to help those kidz!” We gave a big high-five and off we went, determined to help the disabled kidz out there that need Newlife’s help!

After a long hard day, I was one tired bear. Whilst nobody was looking, I snuck off and took a well deserved nap in the hay barn…you can’t blame a Ted for trying, can you!

Sooo that was my big day out to visit Anthony Head, Newlife’s latest supporter. What a cool guy too – although a pair of sunnies would take his cool factor up another notch!

Peace out

Ted

Yo Yo Team Ted,

Supporting Newlife is a ‘no brainer’ for a bear like me – hearing so many stories of disabled kidz getting a rough deal provides immediate inspiration to get out there and make a difference. The thing is, there are plenty more high-profile peeps out there like me who know how important it is to help the disabled kidz that turn to Newlife – have you heard of Elton John, Dame Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones?

….I thought you might!

Well anyway, I have been hangin’ out with another TV star this week. Any of you guyz watch ‘The Inbetweeners’ on E4? Well I have been hanging out with ‘Carly’ from the show. She is a really nice lady and was really happy to help out Newlife – check her out in her Newlife gear…

We got on really great and she was so impressed by the work of Newlife. She thought my sunglasses were so cool and even asked to try them on, but I said there was no way I could completely drop my cover like that. You never know who might be around!

So are any of you guyz gonna be watchin’ the new series of The Inbetweeners?

I won’t have time because of all the work I have to be getting on with, but Emily said it was gonna be a really funny series. Hope you enjoy!

Ted

Hey Guyz,

What a sacrifice! My cuddy friendz have agreed to relocate their homes to raise fundz for Newlife. They are a cute bunch of guyz who have volunteered to stand as raffle prizes in any workplace or school or anywhere like that – to help get some cash to help disabled kidz.

Here is a snap of some of the ‘volunteers’…

My cuddly (and not so cuddly)  friendz!

This is exactly the kind of thing that anyone can do at work, school, community centre or even the local pub in order to help Newlife and disabled kidz. SO, if any of you guyz out there think you could set up a raffle like this, just leave a comment or send me an e-mail and one of my cuddly pals will arrive with you very soon!

Let me know Team Tedders…

Ted

Helloooo Team Ted,

So the new Premier League football season started at the weekend, which was clear to see from it being ALL over the newspapers. I was just readin’ through to see if I could see any interesting stories, then I saw this UNBELIEVABLE story about this guy who plays for Manchester City. His name is Yaya Toure, and he is reported to earn at least £200,000 a week. That is ONE WEEK – y’know, Monday to Sunday, and then back in on Monday? For £200,000! I was totally gob smacked when I read this, and began to wonder what one weeks wages could do here at Newlife.

I had a quick look at the Interactive map and saw that we have 179 kidz waiting for equipment, which will cost just over 450 thousand quid! One week’s wages for this guy could buy equipment for about 80 kidz, and that’s what you could call ‘life-changing’ money – ‘cos it would change lives forever. Not bad for kicking a ball around for a week hey?

I just wish that I had the skill in my furry legz to earn that cash as a football-bear, I could help all the disabled kidz that turn to Newlife for help!!

Hit me back with a comment Team Ted, I’d love to hear what you think of all that cash that footballers earn…

Peace

Ted

Good’ay Folks!

I have just got back from the race track where I, a teddy bear, have been revving up to help raise funds for disabled kidz! However, don’t worry as I haven’t been behind the wheel of a real race car, just a ‘Scalectrix’ car. You guys must remember Scalectrix, right? Well check me out in this short clip, it may jog your memory…

Lewis Hamilton eat your heart out!

So we had a big Scalectrix track set up in the Newlife Superstore and offered people to pay a pound for a go. It wasn’t just the kidz that got involved either, some of the grown ups were just as keen to have a go! In fact we raised nearly 200 quid, not bad going for a toy race track eh?

It just goes to show that raising money for Newlife can be really fun and easy, and as creative as you like. If you are interested in raising funds for Newlife and disabled children, check out our Online Fundraising Pack and come up with your own fun way to fundraise, and make a massive difference to the life of a disabled child. Maybe you have an old Scalectrix set up in the attic that you can dust off, set up and charge your mates 50p a go?

If you want any ideas for fundraising, hit me with an e-mail at teamted@newlifecharity.co.uk.

Ok I think it’s time for another go on the track sooo…gotta go!

Ted

P.S - BIG Ted thanks to ‘Best Bargain Models‘ in Cannock for supplying the SCX Scalectrix track, it is so cool!

Hi again,

I am just checkin’ in quickly because all you need to see this time is this video that I have posted below. We were in a meeting yesterday but just had to stop when we received this letter…

and THAT is why I am trying to help Newlife to help more and more disabled kidz. Can you help?

Ted

Howdy partnerz!

I was chatting with some kidz at the Carnival last week and they were gettin’ really excited about this new film that is coming out – Toy Story 3. They were telling me all about this toy cowboy and a space man but I had never heard of them! So I checked these guyz out – Woody and Buzz – and they seem like pretty determined characters, just like me! If they weren’t so busy at Andy’s house and starring in big Hollywood films then I think they would be pretty useful to have on side at Team Ted. In return, I would happily star in a film with a bunch of toys…

“Ted Story”

Actually, you may not realise how important a toy can be and what a big difference they can make. At Newlife, we fund lots of big expensive equipment like wheelchairz and car seats and stuff like that, BUT we also fund lots of specialist sensory stuff like stimulatory toys that really help kidz with learning difficulties or problems with their behaviour. For example, this little fella called Sean has something called Autism which means he has real trouble controlling his behaviour and communication. Newlife provided him with some special toys like a bubble tube which Sean really loves and he can change the colour of the water by pressing buttons. It has made a huge difference to Sean by allowing him to interact like this to help stimulate his mind and develop his learning and skills. Not only that, it makes Sean sooo happy and keeps him amused for hours on end, and that is just priceless! Pretty cool huh?

It may not be your normal toy but this bubble tube makes a big difference!

Image supplied by ROMPA®

I told you it is amazing how important a ‘toy’ can be! Who would have thought a single toy could make kidz like Sean so happy AND help them to learn properly, for the very first time?

Ted

Disclaimer: Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children & Team Ted are in no way, shape, or form affiliated with nor endorsed by Pixar or Disney, nor do we claim to be. All statements made within this blog are the opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Pixar, Disney, Pixar Planet, or any of their affiliates.

Howdy!

Guess where we were at the weekend having a great time?

… Cannock Carnival!!

We heard there was a fun day going on in the town so I decided to take a Newlife team down there to join in. In fact, I even invited a special guest – my BIG brother Ned! I say big brother because he really is big – about 6 feet tall in fact! So Ned and I went around meetin’ and greetin’ all the kidz and recruiting them to Team Ted by way of a special Team Ted sticker and a high-five. They are really cool kidz and gonna help me out by telling all their friends about Team Ted, so that we can make a really big noise about the tough deal that many disabled kidz are getting.

There was so much fun stuff going on: fairground rides, music bands, donkey rides and a big long procession that went through the whole town of Cannock. Trumpets and everything! Of course Ned and I had to join in on this so we marched all the way around, waving to all the kidz as they went past. It’s not everyday you see a 6 foot teddy bear and a bear wearing sunglasses walking through town so you can imagine some people were pretty shocked to see that! (But not as shocked as they were when I told them about the disabled kidz out there who are being refused equipment that they need so badly)

The whole day was a real success and we raised loads of money to help the disabled kidz and their families. Thanks to all you people who donated to Newlife Foundation on the day or bought somethin’ from one of the stalls, it all really helps.

Were any of you guyz down at the carnival on Saturday? Who had a high- five from my big bro Ned and joined Team Ted?

Let me know about your carnival experience…

Ted

Hey,

Have you ever heard of a teddy bear doing a 10k run? Well by the end of this blog you will have, ‘cos that is exactly what I did this weekend! On Sunday, I took the train all the way to London to run 10k for Newlife. Okay I wasn’t the first runner to finish but I was certainly the first bear to cross the line. Not bad eh? I guess all the running about I’ve been doin’ to help Newlife has left me feelin’ pretty fit.

What do you think of my running gear?

In all seriousness, the London 10k was a really wicked event and the whole team of runners who ran for Newlife did really great. 22 people ran for Newlife on Sunday and have altogether raised over £3000 so far to help disabled kidz, with more to come! So a BIG WELL DONE to all you guyz who ran for Newlife Foundation – you are true fundraising champions!

So… what’s next for me? Everest? Great Wall of China?

You know what, my furry legs are feeling pretty stiff all of a sudden! I couldn’t possibly find the time to go globe trotting – there are disabled kidz to help you know!

Gotta go!

Ted

Can you guyz do a run for Newlife?

If there is anyone who wishes to run for Newlife or do a personal challenge – anything from a walk in the Lake District to a week trekking in Peru – just drop me an e-mail and I will be glad to get in touch!