Man drives coach of teddies to Ukrainian refugees

David Fricker spoke to the Teddy Trust, who have shared research on how important a teddy can be to children

David Fricker The bus with a lot of teddies — David Fricker spoke to the Teddy Trust, who have shared research on how important a teddy can be to children

A man who was left close to tears after seeing a child refugee's face "light up" when he was given a teddy has taken a coach full of cuddly bears to Hungary to hand out.

David Fricker, from Weston-Super-Mare, was visiting friends in Budapest when he captured the moment on camera.

With the help of friends, he collected thousands of teddies and is driving them over to the Ukrainian border.

He said: "Little people can do little things for... the children."

Mr Fricker, 39, was in Hungary soon after the invasion on Ukraine began and was at the train station when he saw "waves of [refugees] coming in".

Mr Fricker said the notes attached to some of the bears were "lovely and really well written"

David Fricker A teddy elephant with a note attached that reads 'you are not alone, stay safe' — Mr Fricker said the notes attached to some of the bears were "lovely and really well written"

He immediately started to volunteer with a Hungarian charity handing out food parcels.

Mr Fricker said: "I turned around and a guy was going around with a black bag of teddies and gave one to a little boy.

"Seeing the way the child's face lit up is a memory that will probably stay with me forever."

He said seeing children with not much more than schoolbags and older women with cat baskets really struck him.

"A teddy is something you can hug as a child and I think that's really important," Mr Fricker said

David Fricker David Fricker — "A teddy is something you can hug as a child and I think that's really important," Mr Fricker said

"I knew we could do things to help… but I wanted to focus on things I knew we could deal with and get the customs clearance and do the paperwork right.

"I couldn't drive a truck but I can drive a coach… and I knew a lot of aid was going to Poland but not much through Hungary, and there are lots of people coming into Hungary", he added.

Within 10 days, he and three friends collected thousands of teddies and shared a 2,500 km (1553 miles) drive to reach Eastern Hungary.

Seeing all the child refugees moved Mr Fricker into helping

David Fricker Two teddies on the dashboard of the bus as it's being driven on the road — Seeing all the child refugees moved Mr Fricker into helping

They are travelling on to Zahony which is near the Ukrainian border to hand out the teddies.

He said some of the teddies have notes written by children attached to them but "we've tried not to read too many because they really hit at the heart".