BEREAVED children will benefit from £172 raised by a local business, which recently held a day of competitions in aid of a charity that helps children of all ages explore the journey through grief.

Local residents visited Specsavers in Tavistock recently to support the Plymouth-based Jeremiah’s Journey charity by entering a ‘name the teddy’ competition, lucky dip and raffle. All of the raffle prizes, including a food hamper and hand-made cards, were donated by local businesses.

The lucky winners of the competition were siblings Amy and Thomas Perkins. Amy, eight, and Thomas, nine, were thrilled to be able to take Hope the teddy bear home with them.

Tavistock store director Sarah Routly said: ‘We’re always on the lookout for ways to give back to the community by supporting local charities that will help our customers.

‘Jeremiah’s Journey has touched the life of a member of staff so we know what a difference it makes.’

The bereavement charity, Jeremiah’s Journey, takes its name from a teddy bear in the story written by one of its founders Dr Sheila Cassidy.

Its purpose is to help children from Plymouth and the surrounding area that have experienced the death of a loved one or need assistance in coming to terms with this prospect.