GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – It was nothing but smiles at one area medical center after a special delivery by a local hockey team Monday.
Green Bay Gamblers hockey players surprised the pediatric unit at Aurora BayCare Medical Center with bags of stuffed toy bears that were collected from Saturday night’s 18th annual Teddy Bear Toss.
The kids got to pick out a bear of their choice.
Gamblers Defenseman Alexis Binner says it’s been a great experience.
“This is my first year on the Gamblers and giving these kids teddy bears is just a fun thing to do…put a smile on their face. It’s an unbelievable feeling just seeing them be happy,” Binner said.
Most of the recipients were too little to say thank you but Nick Olsen with Aurora BayCare says seeing their reaction was enough.
“To capture the surprised look on their face, just the happiness these bears bring them is really cool and enjoyable to see every year.”
A record of 7,370 bears were collected from the ice this year. Olsen says they are delivered to all their clinics in the area.
“(They go) to all of our clinics throughout Northeast Wisconsin, from Manitowoc, up to Door County, up to Marinette, and then the Greater Green Bay area,” said Olsen.
Over 105,000 stuffed animals have been collected through the Teddy Bear Toss event since 2000.
