Teenager’s bear design for NHS wins competition to be sold in John Lewis
It is a touching tribute to NHS workers who have exhibited huge bravery and courage during the coronavirus crisis.
Now all proceeds from a super hero teddy bear designed by an Edinburgh teenager for a major department store chain are to go to the health service. Klara Hinze, 13, from Edinburgh submitted her design, along with her little sister, Lily, as a tribute to her aunt and uncle who work on the NHS frontline.
Her bear, announced the winner out of more than 17,000 entries Uk-wide, will now be created by the John Lewis Partnership’s toy designers, with 100 per cent of the proceeds to go to the NHS.
A panel of expert judges, including children’s illustrator Rob Biddulph and John Lewis toy buyer Rachael Larkman, whittled down the 17,621 entrants into a shortlist of six, with John Lewis and Waitrose customers voting for their favourite on social media. Klara’s bear will be created and sold at Christmas in John Lewis and Waitrose stores.
Klara, who designed the bear with her GP aunt - Anika Elfara and her uncle, Ali Elfara, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology - in mind, said: “I’m incredibly happy to have won this competition and to be able to support the NHS. I hope my bear makes lots of people happy.”
Rachael Larkman, John Lewis toy buyer, said: “All 17,621 entries we received were bursting with creativity and our shortlisted six did an amazing job against fierce competition. But there can only be one winner and our customers have chosen a very worthy design.”
“Klara’s bear is the perfect tribute to the NHS, with its blue cape and mask, and vibrant rainbow colours. It really champions our frontline heroes and we think it’s something our customers will love and get fully behind when it comes on sale later this year.”
John Lewis and Waitrose are working with Klara to name her bear and will make an announcement in the coming days.the #Designyoursuperbear competition was the first part of the John Lewis Partnership’s “Feel Good Friday” campaign.