The Green Bay Gamblers visited Aurora BayCare Medical Center on Monday, February 25, dropping off teddy bears and other stuffed animals collected during their annual Teddy Bear Toss.
The Gamblers took on the Central Illinois Flying Aces on Saturday night. A crowd of 7,441 rained 7,202 bears onto the ice after the Gamblers first score of the game. The annual event is a fan favorite and a treat for the youngest patients at Aurora BayCare, too.
"Sometimes the doctor's office can be overwhelming for young patients," said Dr. Donald Beno, pediatrician at Aurora BayCare. "It allows everyone to relax when the Gamblers players come around to give out the bears. It's a bright spot in everyone's day."
While the Gamblers dropped off bears in person on Monday, many of the cheerful stuffed animals are kept in reserve and distributed to kids year-round.
"It's also nice to be able to give out bears when they are having painful procedures," Beno said. "These bears help to take the fear and pain away from our small kiddos."
More than 100,000 teddy bears have been distributed through the Gamblers' annual event.