Charity fundraisers who have raised thousands for good causes are throwing their weight behind the Shropshire Star’s Flying Doctor Appeal – and are putting a 3ft tall bear centre-stage in their efforts to bring in the cash.

Rob Hewson, of Whitchurch, with his wife Margaret and two friends, are behind the charity Caring Hearts, which has done much fundraising in the Whitchurch area. And now they are going to give our appeal a hand.

“We think it’s a fantastic thing that you are doing,” said Rob.

“We’ve got a 3ft bear which we are going to raffle off for your appeal. It’s got a top hat and is like a polar bear. Some friends of ours won it and gave it to us as they know we do a lot of good work in the Whitchurch area.”

The raffle will take the form of a “guess the bear’s birthday” competition, at £1 a go, with the winner being drawn at a coffee morning, also in aid of the appeal, on May 5.

“We have a shop in Whitchurch High Street on a Friday, which was kindly donated to us for charity work, and we are going to have the bear on display there,” said Rob.

The shop is at 33 High Street, but the coffee morning on May 5 will be at Whitchurch Civic Centre from 9am to noon, with a 50p admission.

Rob added that the Caring Hearts had raised about £24,000 over the years.

* Read all about our appeal here and print off a donation form here.

* Have you got something planned to support our Flying Doctor Appeal? Then don’t forget to let us know about it so we can highlight your effort. Drop a line to: Toby Neal, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford, Shropshire TF1 5HU, phone (01952) 241458, or e-mail tneal@shropshirestar.co.uk

By Toby Neal