The Green Bay Gamblers hockey stopped by Aurora BayCare Medical Center on Monday, February 26, to bring joy to dozens of young patients and their families. This morning the hockey players brought just some of the thousands teddy bears that were thrown on the ice during Saturday's 19th Annual Teddy Bear Toss.
This annual event is more than a fan favorite; the youngest patients at Aurora BayCare look forward to the bears, too. Each year the Green Bay Gamblers ask their fans to bring a new teddy bear to the game when the first goal is scored it rains bears as thousands of stuffed animals are tossed from the stands onto the ice.
"We are grateful to our fans and to Aurora BayCare for helping us bring smiles to these kids," said Gamblers spokesman Jason Habeck. "I had a daughter in the NICU and I know how this really brightens the day for these patients and their families."
"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."
More than 100,000 teddy bears have been received and distributed through the annual teddy bear toss.
To see more photos for this year's event, please visit Aurora BayCare's Facebook page.
