Fourteen year old Emma Welch, from Chilcompton, whose fund-raising efforts have featured in the Journal several times in the past few years has completed her challenge to set a World Record for the largest number of teddies on a mountain-top. She achieved the accolade on Saturday, 30th May,
What makes claiming a world record even more amazing, is the fact that just a few days later, Emma is scheduled to undergo surgery to cure her scoliosis curvature at Bristol Children's Hospital.
Helping Emma to transport teddies up the Llanberis path of Mount Snowdon in North Wales were Andrew Stammers, local church minister who inspired Emma to begin fundraising for Brain Tumour Research after being diagnosed with a grade 3 brain tumour in 2011, and his eldest daughter, Gracie, as well as Emma's parents, Tony and Lesley, along with other kind volunteers. Many of the teddy bears who took part had been donated or lent by staff and pupils at St Nicholas Primary School in Radstock, where Emma used to go and is currently attended by Andrew's youngest daughter, six-year-old Anwyn. Snowdon Mountain Railway also stepped in to allow any teddies who couldn't find a climber with space in a rucksack to hitch a free ride on the train!
Despite her own health concerns, Emma has raised nearly £4,000 to date for the charity, including over £1,300 from this latest challenge.
Surrounded by teddies and on the highest mountain peak in Wales, Emma commented: "Well I made it to the top of Snowdon and I set a new World Record – so I am really happy and thank you for all your encouragement and support. By the time you read this in the newspaper, I will be fast asleep. Either in the operating theatre or in intensive care.Whilst I am in hospital there are two things I really need to do: Firstly to say: it's not over! Brain tumours continue to happen.
"Secondly, thank you to everyone who has supported me. The teddies have been brilliant and I have set the record for the largest teddy bears' picnic on a mountain summit with a whopping 135 teddies. I will be trying to return all the loaned ones as quickly as possible but as you can imagine, it may be quite difficult for a while.
"I do have loads of teddies whose owners don't want back though. If you would like one please drop me an email and if you could make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via my JustGiving web page then that would be great. The email address is [email protected]">[email protected] Please do keep on donating. Go to my website http://www.emmawelch.co.uk">www.emmawelch.co.uk and follow the link at the bottom of the page to my JustGiving page. It's all in a very good cause. Finally, a special thank you to St Nicholas Primary School who supported me by collecting teddies and lending me their school mascot and another special thank you to the members of SWALLOW (South West Action for Learning and Living Our Way) where my Dad works, who so thoughtfully got together to send me an encouragement card."
Nicki Smith, head teacher at St Nicholas Primary School, said: "As a former pupil of our school, we are so proud of Emma and all that she has achieved. It was wonderful to see Grumpy, our school mascot, reach the summit. This embodies Emma's courage and all that we desire for our pupils – aim high and you will succeed."
Andrew Stammers, (who also is a parent governor at St Nicholas) commented: "Emma is an inspiration. She has again put the wellbeing of others before her own issues. She is in our thoughts and prayers as she faces her own medical challenge."To sponsor Emma go to http://www.justgiving.com/Emma-Welch5/">www.justgiving.com/Emma-Welch5/