THUNDER BAY - Alex Mitchell knows first-hand how even a small gesture can make a world of difference to children battling an illness, so he decided he was going to make a big gesture, with the help of some big teddy bears, to give children big smiles this holiday season.
“I know what a lot of the kids go through,” Alex said. “It’s a lot and it’s hard. And it’s hard for the families, too, so it’s fun to just put a smile on some kids faces instead of seeing them in a hospital and depressed.”
On Saturday, 12 kids received four-foot tall teddy bears, along with $100 gift certificates for the local toy store, Toy Sense, during the first Holiday Bear-Hug Event in Thunder Bay.
Alex, 15, has been battling a brain tumor for the past 13 years and last year he spent 19 weeks at the SickKids Hospital in Toronto. During his time there, Alex participated in the Million Dollar Smiles program that provides gifts to kids facing medical challenges, a gesture he said was very touching. He also participated in building backyard playground equipment for kids who may not have the opportunity to go to the park to play.
The Million Dollar Smiles Holiday Bear-Hug Event has been ongoing in Toronto for the last 10 years, but Alex wanted to bring these bear-hugs to kids in Thunder Bay.
“Alex has a lot of really good ideas on how to make things better for kids who have medical challenges and I just support him in the best way I can to make these things happen,” said Cathy Mitchell, Alex’s mother. “He gets these really great ideas. He’s lived this first-hand and he knows what it’s all about and he wants to bring smiles to other kids.”
“It feels awesome because it’s not fun to spend Christmas in the hospital,” Alex added. “I spent my birthday this year in the hospital and it’s really not fun. You can’t celebrate it with a lot of family. It sucks, a lot.”
The teddy bears were donated by local businesses that sponsored a bear, along with the $100 gift cards and Toy Sense added an additional $25 to each card.
For the kids running up to first give Alex a hug before the teddy bears that were bigger than they were, there was definitely a lot to be smiling about.
For six-year-old, Hunter Fernyc, it was really exciting to receive his bear, which he could only describe as "humongous."
“He will snuggle me at bedtime,” he said.
Seven-year-old, Ryder Hutton, was just as exited when he first saw the table lined with bears when he walked into the room.
“They were for the kids,” he said. “I was excited. I will put him in my bed.”
Ryder’s mother, Michelle Hutton, said she was excited to see all the smiles on all the kids’ faces and know that it is all because of someone like Alex who knows exactly how they are feeling.
“It’s pretty special that Alex thought, after being granted his wish, that he thought to think of all the little ones in his hometown and bring it up here to put some smiles on their faces,” she said. “They have definitely all been through a lot. It just shows what a good kid he is. He has been through a lot himself but he is always thinking about other kids.”
And while the bear was bigger than Ryder, Hutton said all the kids are really excited and there will be a future trip to the toy store soon, but first other arrangements need to be made.
“Now we have to find some room now for a couple extra people in the house,” she said of the giant bears.
Alex and Cathy hope to make the Holiday Bear-Hug Event an annual tradition in Thunder Bay, and Alex wants to help build more background playgrounds here in town.
But for now, these giant teddy bears will have to do the trick, which according to Alex is not just to make kids smile, but to give them something so much more valuable.
“It’s just for them to have some comfort and to know they are not alone and they are not the only ones fighting this and that everyone is here for them,” he said. “As fun as it is to get stuff, it’s always fun to give back.”
