When I was a young boy my family and I went to America. We went to see family in North america and one evening, during our stay, we went to see a friend of the family. Her name was 'Toodles' and I remember being driven out to her house in the American countryside. I seemed to remember driving past what seemed to be endless rows of corn fields, for miles and miles. We eventually came to her house and spent the evening there.
Much of the evening passed without much recollection. I imagine there was alot of adult chit chat and I was probably busy planning how to be an astronaut, as I usually did at that age. However during the evening, I remember Toodles asking me and my sister if we'd like to come see her teddy collection.
Excited, we were led to a room full of hundreds of teddys sat together all staring back at us. I imagine me and my sisters mouths were open as neither of us had seen anything quiet like that before.
"You can take one teddy each with you!" said Toodles.
My eyes flicked from one toy to another. Too many to choose from! Finally, my gaze fell on a small Gorilla holding a banana. He stuck out to me like the holy grail. I immediately liked him and asked if I could take him.
"Oh I'm sorry" dismayed Toodles, "but he's my favourite! Is there another one you'd like?"
A little disappointed, I eventually settled on a brown teddy with a waistcoat. He was nice, but he wasn't the cute little gorilla and so I shuffled out the room, teddy in hand and took a look back at the gorilla one last time. We said goodby to Toodles, continued on with our holiday and I forgot about that cute little gorilla.
20 years later, I was home to see my mother who had just returned from a trip to America.
"I brought something back for you" she said.
Wondering what it was she handed me a plastic bag with something clearly soft inside. A little puzzled, I reached in and pulled out the contents, Instantly I recognized what I was holding. My little cute Gorilla!
"Toodles said she felt bad for not letting you have him, so she gave it to me to give to you"
"oh my god wow, Thankyou!!!" I delighted. It was a happy reunion! I named him George, held a party for his homecoming, to which many friends came and he's been sat in my bedroom ever since.
As a thankyou to Toodles, I want George to see more adventures than any toy Gorilla has ever seen before. I can start with Thailand, but you're help is needed. She is not aware of what George is up to, or what I am intending to do. It would be amazing to be able to show her just how well travelled George has been. So please donate to the cause and we can all see George have amazing adventures together! It'll only take you a few minutes and all proceeds go to Diabetes UK, so you are helping many more lives in the process.
Lets get George back to the jungle.
George Renforth
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