|  |  | |  |  | | Paddington as the Mascot for Action Medical Research | |
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| Paddington is, by nature, a very helpful bear and so it will come as no surprise to learn that he is a very keen supporter of charities.
Over the years he has been involved in a number of projects, including work for the American Red Cross and UNICEF in the USA but, since he lives in England, the focus of most of his work centres around a UK based charity, Action Medical Research, to which he gives his exclusive support.
Paddington’s involvement with Action Medical Research goes all the way back to 1976 when a chance meeting took place between Paddington’s creator Michael Bond and the charity’s founder, Duncan Guthrie who asked whether, through Paddington, Michael Bond could offer his support to the charity.
At the time, Michael Bond was inundated with approaches from all manner of charities, all wanting to make use of Paddington in some way. He couldn’t possibly say yes to all of them, much as he may have wanted to. However, when he started to hear about the work of Action Medical Research he suddenly became very interested because here was a charity that really did help a huge range of people, not just the old or the young but anyone who already suffered or potentially might suffer from any number of diseases or disabilities.
 At first Paddington’s involvement was quite modest and it began with the formation of Paddington's "Make it Grow Club" which later became renamed "Paddington's Action Club". This was primarily for children and through Paddington, aimed to teach them all about the work of the charity. However, although "Paddington's Action Club" no longer exists, Paddington's involvement is now greater than it's ever been and, as the charity's official mascot, he appears at fundraising events up and down the country.
The biggest event of the year in Paddington’s Action Medical Research diary has to be "Bring Your Bear" week which takes place around the time of Paddington’s summer birthday on June 25th. Businesses, schools and individuals arrange all sorts of events and activities with the help of their bears and raise money for Paddington’s favourite cause.
If you would like to learn more about the work of the charity, you can visit Action Medical Research’s Official Website or, if you wish, you can MAKE A DONATION HERE. |
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Charity Mascot
