Bears united for BBC Children in Need!

Children’s author and bear maker Dee H Dodgson from Sherford has made one of her Dinker Bears specially for BBC Children in Need – and his lucky new owner will get to see him become a star in one of her forthcoming books.

Jethro is to be raffled at the Plympton branch of Shoe Zone, which will announce the winner on 29 November. The prize also includes signed copies of Dee’s four-book series about the Dinker Bears, entitled Sherford’s Lost Valley.

The books tell of how tiny Dinker Bears are uprooted by the loss of their woods because of housing development in Sherford Valley, and their dangerous quest to find a new home.

A 52-episode animated TV series based on the books is currently under development.

Dee hand-makes all of her bears and Jethro took three days. He’s a complete one-off and comes with a certificate.

“I’m working on some new books and Jethro will have a role to play,” said Dee. “So whoever wins him in the BBC Children in Need raffle will be able to follow his story. And you only need to look at his face to know he’ll have quite a story to tell.”

Store manager Dee McInnes said the Jethro raffle is already on course for raising hundreds of pounds for BBC Children in Need, which takes place this Friday  (14 November). She said: “The children love him. He’s so gorgeous. They love the books too and recognise the places, such as Cann Woods.”

The store nationally has partnered with BBC Children in Need to sell Pudsey slippers, with 25% of the retail price going to the cause. By Tuesday this week, Shoe Zone had raised almost £110,000.