Teddy and friends flock to park picnic

Bella Hawke, 2, enjoys the Teddy Bears' Picnic at Memorial Park. Photo/Andrew Warner

Yesterday was the day Tauranga teddy bears had their picnic and dozens of Bay families flocked to the event at Memorial Park.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears on Tour, a charity event organised by Avon representatives, raised hundreds for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade and the Nga Kakno Foundation in Te Puke.

Avon district sales manager Cathe Meyer said the teddy bears' picnics were held in Te Puke, Paeroa, Papamoa, Katikati, Waihi and the Mount.

She said the feedback from the picnics had been awesome.

"We wanted to partner with an organisation like Nga Kakno which works with Tamariki Ora," she said.

"It has been great to see all the smiling families."

Four-year-old Ava Clement from Papamoa brought three teddy bears, two dragons and a stuffed mouse.

"I couldn't leave them at home. They would have got jealous of all the fun."

Tauranga mum Shyane Barr, who brought her three-year-old son Terence along, said it was great to see so many children smiling at an event that was for a good cause.

"It has been a good day, its a chance to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine with lots of other people," she said.