Events company throws Maggie, nine, the ultimate teddy bears' picnic to help in her charity quest

Event Prop Hire in Wetherby came to the aid of Maggie Snodgrass, nine, who was left stunned after a local appeal for teddies led to her amassing an incredible haul of 4,000.

While she had managed to collect 1,000 herself, bosses at Leeds attraction Stockeld Park were inspired by her quest and went on to donate 3,000 from their Santa’s grotto collection.

Maggie's aim was to send teddies to The Teddy Trust, which gives cuddly toys to children around the world suffering from the traumas of war, starvation or abuse.

But the charity is based in Hereford and while Maggie and her family were overjoyed at their incredible pile of teddies, they were left with the issue over how to get them boxed up and transported to the charity’s HQ 200 miles away.

Event Prop Hire’s transport manager heard about her plight and the kind-hearted company stepped up to offer its help - picking up the teddies, transforming their office for a special teddy-packing day and then transporting them to their destination.

Maggie’s mum Lyndsay Snodgrass said: “They were amazing, they just made it happen for us.

"We had about 20 of Maggie’s friends and family down there to help us out and the office looked amazing. They threw her a teddy bear’s picnic - and every member of staff was wearing a pair of teddy ears.

"Their offices are all themed so they had ‘grass’ carpet, a running waterfall in one office and a log cabin where they hold their meetings.

"All the kids were completely blown away.”

She added: “The whole team has been fantastic, especially at a time when their industry has been affected so drastically by Covid-19.”

Rosie Ellis, co-owner of Wetherby-based Event Prop Hire said they were “thrilled” to be able to help.

She said: “We build props and design immersive events to create magical experiences so to be able to assist with this magical story and charity felt the right thing to do.”

Once Maggie and her teddies arrived in Hereford, they were greeted with a welcome party by the charity’s founder Ellie Somme and volunteers, who gifted her with a certificate and book about the history of teddies.

Lyndsay said: "One of Event Prop Hire's drivers drove the teddies down then they got to around the corner [from the charity] when me and Maggie got in the lorry and drove to Teddy Trust. They were all waiting outside with balloons on the gate, and teddies. It was just so lovely."

Maggie, of Harrogate, said: “It was nice to meet Ellie and all the Teddy Trust helpers. It made me really happy that they were happy.”

Ellie previously told the Yorkshire Evening Post that the teddies were currently being sent to Greece as well as Iraq, Kurdistan and South Africa.

For more information on the work of the Teddy Trust, visit www.teddytrust.org.uk.