US honour for Campbell

CAMPBELL Remess could be in for a few surprises when he jets off to the US today to be honoured for his tireless charity work.

The 13-year-old from Acton is the driving force behind Project 365, which creates bears for sick children in hospitals across Australia.

So far, Campbell has made about 1400 bears and raised more than $100,000.

He is flying to the US to be honoured at a special tribute dinner hosted by television network CNN known as the Young Wonders: A Heroes

Special tomorrow. And Campbell, the only non-American among the five young people invited, expects to get a little star struck when he arrives, if all goes to plan.

He will bring along his travelling bear Yorkie to snap selfies with celebrities when he arrives. He then plans to auction the bear at the dinner for cancer research.

“It’s very exciting, I just can’t wait to get over there,” Campbell said.

The teen, who has drawn national and international praise for his efforts, was inspired to create the bears after he asked his parents if he could buy Christmas presents for kids in hospital, but was told it would cost too much.

He has featured in a video on SBS TV’s Facebook page earlier this week and also received a donation of faux fur from New York fashion designer Malan Breton.

Campbell will be one of Tasmania’s local legends who will be a baton bearer for the Queen’s Baton Relay in the lead-up to next year’s Commonwealth Games in Queensland. His family was also surprised by Channel Nine’s Today Show last year with a family holiday to Queensland.