Starlight Children’s Foundation™ Canada Unveils 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Collectible Bear Designed By Five-Year-Old Girl with Heart Defect

Organization partners with Toys”R”Us Canada for 10th consecutive year to allow a Starlight child the chance to make her toy dream come true.

TORONTO, ON (October 24, 2018) - Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada, in partnership with Toys“R”Us Canada, is proud to announce the release of their 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Collectible Bear, designed by five-year-old Starlight child Ella. Celebrating a decade-long collaboration between Starlight children and Toys”R”Us, this year’s bear “Sparkles” will be available both online and in-store across the country, with proceeds going directly towards brightening the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

About the designer, Ella 

Before birth, Ella was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (a congenital heart defect) and developed increased blood pressure in the heart-to-lung system at only six months old. This adorable little girl has already received a donor artery, undergone nine heart surgeries, and until this summer, was connected to oxygen around the clock (requiring her to constantly be careful of tubing, particularly when playing with her big brother Cameron).

About the bear, Sparkles

Despite challenges in her life, Ella can always be found with a big smile on her face, which is why she requested that Sparkles must have a big smile too! Ella wanted Sparkles to have an embroidered heart on his chest (to represent her journey as a “heart kid”), along with gold, glittery feet (her favourite colour). Beyond Sparkle’s appearance, Ella says Sparkles can fly, and his favourite food is chicken and fries. He also gives GREAT hugs!

“At Starlight, we believe no illness should ever get in the way of having fun,” says Starlight Canada Executive Director Brian Bringolf. “Looking back at a decade of these courageous Starlight Bear kids, we feel privileged to share their stories and thankful to our long-time partners at Toys”R”Us Canada for making this initiative happen year after year.”

Starlight Canada and Toys”R”Us Canada have been partners for 20 years. Through the support of their amazing team members and customers, Toys”R”Us Canada has raised over $19 million dollars for Starlight.

Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada’s 10th anniversary collectible bear “Sparkles” retails for $19.99 and is available in Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores across Canada and online at http://bit.ly/sparklesbear.

About Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada:

Starlight Children’s Foundation® Canada brightens the lives of seriously ill Canadian children and their families by bringing them joy, laughter and relief. For close to 30 years, Starlight Canada has spread millions of smiles to sick kids through a unique blend of family-centered programs and services from hospital to home. With your help, more kids and families will benefit from receiving a Starlight Comfort Kit in-hospital or relaxing at a Starlight Day Brightener out-of-hospital.

Support Starlight Canada’s work by visiting www.starlightcanada.org and by following Starlight on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

Hashtag: #SparklesBear

About Toys”R”Us Canada:

Since 1984, Toys”R”Us Canada has been Canada’s leading dedicated specialty retailer of toys and baby products.  As Canada’s trend authority in toys and baby products, the company brings national brands, exclusive products, innovative loyalty programs and unique partnerships to Canadians at its 82 stores across Canada and through its e-commerce sites Toysrus.ca and Babiesrus.ca.  Committed to giving back to our communities, we focus our charity efforts on supporting children and their families whether enhancing resources and services, helping development through play or offering distraction and encouragement to seriously ill children. Toys”R”Us Canada is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.  For store locations and convenient online shopping, visit www.toysrus.ca and www.babiesrus.ca.

For additional photos or interview requests, please contact:

Cory Stewart | Embrace Disruption PR 

p: 647.638.1586 | e: cory@embracedisruption.com

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