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Campbell Remess is not like most 12-year-olds. For the last three years, Campbell has spent all of his free time sewing teddy bears for charity.

“I do comfort bears, which are for parents if their kids are in hospital having a hard time,” he said.

“I do overseas bears, like for terrorists attacks.

“I sent one over to Paris when the people got hurt, and I’m sending some over to Brussels too.”

Self-taught teddy bear maker, his charitable obsession started when Campbell decided he wanted to give Christmas presents to children in hospital.

“He asked if we could buy presents for children in hospital and I said ‘No way, dude’,” Sonya Whittaker, Campbell’s mum, said.

Ms Whittaker said she told Campbell that with nine children of their own, buying presents for sick kids would just cost too much.

“He said ‘No worries, I’ll make them then’,” she said.

“OK, [I said] go for gold, knock yourself out.”

Ms Whittaker said Campbell made six or so toys in a couple of days and then came to her with a pattern to make a teddy bear.

“He brought me this pattern and said ‘Mum, I can’t work this out. Can you have a look for me?’ I’m like ‘Nah, it’s beyond me’,” Ms Whittaker said.

She sent Campbell to bed, thinking that would be the end of it.

A few hours later, he came back with his first bear.

“He came down with this funky looking teddy bear that he’d made … it was incredible,” Ms Whittaker said.

“He’s just sewn and sewn since then.”

Campbell has pushed himself for the past two years to create a teddy bear a day.

In January Campbell wrote on his page

My name is Campbell but everyone calls me Bumble. Im 11 but I will be 12 this year. When I was 9 I asked mum and dad if we could buy Christmas presents for kids in hospital when they told me it would cost too much I decided to make them. I decided that I would make 1 present a day which is 365 a year and give them all away. I have done this for two Christmases now and I love it. I make special bears to auction and fundraise for people too. This is my page to share my story and show you the things that I make.

So far for 2016 I have made 102 presents and raised $2485.25 for fundraisers

I use my pocket money to buy fabric and things but if you would like to help me my  contact is Project365bycampbell@hotmail.com

If you know of a child that I could send a bear to and would like to share their story please message details. I don’t have enough for everyone but I do send lots out but mum doesn’t like me to read all the stories though

Thank you to everyone for following my page and helping me with my project from Bumble.”

campbell

Surprise make over for Campbell’s room

Campbell has a Facebook group called Project 365 by Campbell.

One of the group’s members, Kat, was recently inspired to help Campbell, reports ABC.

“I sent his mum a message one night to ask if he needed fabric,” Kat said.

“She came back with a definite no, but [she said] what he did need was storage space.

“I set up a [online fundraiser] that night with the aim of reaching $1,000 in a week or so and we reached $1,000 in 36 hours.”

Kat used the money to buy Campbell a work bench and storage space to hold all the donated fabric he has.

A team of volunteers set to work while Campbell was at school to transform his bedroom into a sewing room.

Kat said she wanted to help Campbell in some way to say thank you for all the work he had done.

“He’s such a selfless little boy,” she said.

“He does it all off his own back with his pocket money and donations from other people, but asks for nothing in return.

“And to have a special work space set up so he can do that, I thought would be ideal — and now he’s got it.”

Ms Whittaker said she often thought about what would have happened if she had said no when Campbell first asked to use her sewing machine.

“Look at the last three years of experience and practice and skill he’s got … look at what the word ‘yes’ has done,” she said.

“Just one simple ‘Yep, knock yourself out’ — and he has.”

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  • I love it when young people are so committed to helping others – leaders of the future.

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  • What an insightful, selfless young man. I hope he continues to receive the encouragement & support he needs yo keep up his great work!

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  • What an awesome little man. Well done Campbell it’s an amazing, caring thing you’re doing!

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  • What a beautiful caring and giving heart you have Campbell, you’re a huge inspiration !! And how gifted you are in sewing, your bears are awesome !

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  • It gives me so much hope for the future when there are amazing, generous, brilliant kids like this doing amazing things!


    • Exactly – inspirational stories like this do give you a lot of hope for the future.

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  • Good for him. Its lovely to see a young person full of such compassion and love for others.

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  • What a beautiful beautiful soul ♡

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  • I’m going to save his details, and in I’d months, when the attention has died wn – THEN I’ll see if he needs a donation.

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  • What a huge heart Campbell has. A worthy cause by a very talented boy. If only more adults had this kind of compassion for others

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  • Campbell you are one amazing young man!

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  • Wow!!! This story gave me goosebumps! But good goosebumps!!! What an amazing young chap! I will be sharing his story and following his facebook page!

    Thank you Campbell!!!

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  • Well done, Campbell. Maybe this will inspire people to either sew or knit teddies. Hospital Emergency Depts. use them a lot. On the odd occasion they have used one to pacify a child whose Mum or Dad has been rushed to Hospital and is very distressed. It gives the child some comfort while waiting for somebody to be located to take care of the child. They are also used in Ambulances a lot. Babies and toddlers tend to struggle a lot when being treated. It not only pacifies them, they are holding it so their little hands are busy, not in they way while treatment is being done.

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  • What an awesome young man. So clever and motivated. I wish him all the best and I know he will go far.

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  • Such an inspiring boy. It’s amazing what he does. And how he overcame the obstacles he found on his way. What a great way to spread happiness around the world!!

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  • What a wonderfully caring young man! So dedicated too, doing all this at the start with minimal help. Such a lovely idea

    Reply

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