A mother who lost her 25-year-old daughter to a rare form of severe asthma, has begun spending hours each day restoring teddy bears to raise funds towards Asthma UK.
Tina Rush has amassed more than 12,500 bears at her 18th century Pickering forge, which she used to run as an antiques and curiosity shop for 14 years.
As interest for the bears surged online, she took an early retirement to care for them full time and now spends hours each day doing restoration work – with some bears being as tall as seven feet and others as old as 77.
Tina Rush spends hours each day carefully restoring teddy bears in an 18th century forge in Pickering. Pictured: Tina with her teddies in her front room
Tina (pictured) who ran an antiques and curiosity shop for 14 years, retired to focus on teddy bears after seeing their popularity
Sales are entirely online and Tina has racked up over 1,000 members on her Teddy Rescue Facebook page.
Tina lost her 25-year-old daughter Jofi to a rare form of severe asthma in 2016, and has since begun donating funds raised through any sales to Asthma UK.
Tina said: ‘Bears have always been popular, but this year many people have needed a little comfort.
‘We are absolutely driven by nostalgia. It’s a phenomenal thing.’.
She revealed a great number of requests come for memory bears, or bereavement bears. Teddy Rescue also offers responsibility bears for children, or people with additional needs.
Tina (pictured) donates funds from sales to Asthma UK, following the death of her 25-year-old daughter Jofi to a rare form of severe asthma
She explained teddy donations come from all over, including charity shops, car boots and even left on the doorstep of the 1760s forge, which now serves as a bear orphanage as well as family home.
She said: ‘Sometimes they are pushed in under the porch.
‘All our bears are rescued, some have no limbs or eyes, or need stitches or restuffing.
‘Some of the older bears, made from mohair of sheepskin, need new paws and pads which are much more difficult to work on, or amber-glass eyes.
‘Every bear gets the same treatment. I sit and hand stitch them, and they all come with a little card telling their story.
Tina said the teddies (pictured) come from a variety of places including charity shops, car boot sales as well as being pushed in under the porch
Tina revealed all of the bears arrive having no limbs or eyes, or in need of being restuffed. Pictured: Tina with her teddies in her front room
Tina said she hand stitches each teddy and writes a card telling their story. Pictured: A teddy from Tina’s collection
‘I just do it because I want to really. Not everybody can go to a shop and buy an expensive bear.’
Tina’s first bear was 77-year-old Button Rush, gifted to her by a neighbour for a hospital visit as a child, who she says is ‘well-worn, but still very well dressed’.
She said: ‘I have bears that are worth 50p and others that are worth thousands.
‘I keep saying ‘no more’ to my long-suffering husband Scott, but then I get more. We live with bears. It’s a full time job, you’ve got to care for them properly.’
Tina (pictured) who has 400 bears in her living room, said the collection has some for 50p and others that cost thousands
There are 400 bears in Mrs Rush’s living room alone, with some being seven feet tall and others just an inch high.
There are artist bears, retro bears, bears that stand up and sit down.
One was left in the doorway of a designer store in Leeds, and rescued by a shop worker who had watched anxiously all day to see if it would be reclaimed.
Another was a sweetheart’s gift from a soldier killed in war in the Second World War.
A final mohair, Big Ted, complete with flat cap and neckerchief, was donated by an elderly gentleman who wanted to ensure his beloved childhood toy went on to a deserving home.
Among the collection are retro bears, artists bears and one that was a sweetheart’s gift from a soldier killed during the Second World War. Pictured: Tina with her teddies
Tina (pictured) said many of her elderly customers have struggled with loneliness throughout the pandemic
Tina revealed that many of her loyal customers are elderly, and have struggled throughout the isolation period of this past year due to the pandemic.
Tina said: ‘We know so many people are lonely, especially now.
‘It’s nice to pass them on, and even more so in these difficult times. It’s just a wonderful thing to do. You have to live your life with a little glimmer of hope.
‘The teddy bear is one of the most traditional toys in the world.
‘Across nations, from all walks of life, everybody recognises it. You never forget your bears.
‘Just because something is second-hand doesn’t mean it’s second best. Life isn’t perfect and shiny. Sometimes it’s more endearing.’
Tina said teddy bears are one of the traditional toys in the world and second-hand doesn’t mean second best. Pictured: Tina with her teddies