Edinburgh teenager's NHS-inspired toy bear flies onto shelves at John Lewis

Schoolgirl beats out thousands of competitors to have her design sold at John Lewis with her winning NHS-inspired bear entry.

Hundreds of toy bears designed by 14-year-old Klara Hinze will arrive on the shelves of John Lewis Edinburgh this week.

Hundreds of toy bears designed by 14-year-old Klara Hinze will arrive on the shelves of John Lewis Edinburgh this week with all profits going to NHS Charities Together.

Klara officially named the bear ‘Sparkle’, after one of her own special teddies which she has had since she was four years old.

Her winning design was chosen out of 17,621 entries which were submitted by children from across the UK.

Klara Hinze hopes the bear will raise awareness of the 'amazing' job that the NHS has been and is still doing.

The teenager’s design features a rainbow patterned bear dressed in a blue cape and face mask, a thoughtful tribute to the heroic healthcare professionals who continue to battle Covid-19 on the frontline.

Klara said: “I hope Sparkle will raise awareness of the amazing job that the NHS has been and is still doing. I have family who work in the NHS and I clapped every week for them. Although we’re not doing that now, it’s important not to forget everything they continue to do for us. It’s been great to visit the store and see Sparkle in real-life for the first time. She’s just how I imagined. I can’t wait to show family and friends.”

Sparkle is available for £12 with all profit going to NHS Charities Together to support NHS patients, staff and volunteers.

Head of Branch at John Lewis Edinburgh Barry Blamire said: “ Klara’s bear is the perfect tribute to the NHS, with its blue cap and vibrant rainbow colours. It’s a strong reminder of the sacrifices our frontline heroes continue to make. The fact that it’s a local girl who designed the bear makes it even more special.”

Director of Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation and Trustee of NHS Charities Together Jane Ferguson shared her own delight.

She said: “The John Lewis initiative is a great one and it makes it even more special for us at Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation that Sparkle was designed by a local, Lothian girl. We can’t thank Klara enough for her support and we’re sure Sparkle will bring joy to lots of homes across the Lothians and UK.”

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.