Trekker Ted Donation

In January 2017, the Kickstart Project team dropped off armfuls of Trekker Teds for the children at the Shoe4Africa Children's Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

This is the first public children’s hospital for east and central Africa. Partnering as a teaching hospital with Moi University in Eldoret, the facility holds up to 105 patients and will provide hundreds of thousands of children with health care and coverage. A plan to open a second Shoe4Africa children’s hospital is currently underway.

The Teds were lovingly made and donated by the Trekker Ted team from the Yarra Valley, Victoria and were received at the hospital by Sarah Ellen Mamlin, the Director and creator of the Child Life Program within Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. This program seeks to minimize the stress and anxiety children often experience during their stay in the hospital.

Little Atieno (see photo) was being treated for chronic kidney disease at the hospital and became the recipient of one of these colourful little bears. Tragically, Atieno passed away in February 2017. We never had the privilege of meeting this little angel but we are so touched by her story. The staff from the Child Life Program told us how loved Atieno felt when she had received her Ted. "THANK YOU and the generous woman who made that bear for her. I hope she can see her gift making a child happy in Kenya" - Sarah Ellen Mamlin - Director, Child Life Program