Ryman residents knit bears for Ukrainian kids

Residents from Ryman Healthcare retirement villages in Australia and New Zealand have hand-knitted 14,000 teddy bears for Ukrainian children.

The Yuri-bear initiative, as it’s known, was started by Debra Richardson – Victorian sales manager at Ryman Healthcare – and named after the 11-year-old Ukrainian boy Ms Richardson fostered following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Ms Richardson said residents were keen to get behind the project. “I have been completely overwhelmed by the response of Ryman residents, many of whom are avid knitters. For months now they’ve come together to hand-knit these special bears in the hope of bringing some joy to a very dark situation.”

The bears will now be transported almost 11,000 nautical miles across the sea to Ukraine.

“For us, it’s about making sure they reach the children they’re intended for,” said Ms Richardson. “Fourteen-thousand bears need their own shipping container.”

Thankfully, freight-forwarding company Mondiale VGL has donated one and the Yuri bears will set sail within the next few days.

“We are pleased to be able to provide the means of transport for the Yuri bears to Ukraine and work with Ryman Healthcare on this fantastic initiative,” said Mondiale VGL group CEO Ray Meade.

Once they arrive at their destination, the bears will be distributed by aid organisation Kiwi K.A.R.E “who, as well as distributing aid, have embraced the challenge of getting these teddies into the hands of displaced children,” said Ms Richardson.

The man who inspired the bears – now a member of Ukraine’s security forces – is humbled and overwhelmed by the gesture. “So many miles between us, but I feel the love and support of my Australian mommy Debra because we are close in minds,” said Yuri.

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