Since the passing of her son Kyle in 2006 after his battle with leukemia, Luling’s Vicki Bergeron has not let his name be forgotten — and she’s helped bring happiness to plenty of children in need along the way.
She’s done that through the annual Teddy Cares drive, which was established by Bergeron and her son Logan in memory of Kyle, who was 18 when he passed away.
Through Teddy Cares, stuffed bears are delivered to children who are being treated for cancer at local hospitals in order to bring a smile to their faces during the most trying of times.
Sponsors are secured for each bear for a cost of $10, and each sponsor may name the bear. The deadline to sponsor is Dec. 15.
“To see those children and the way they smile and respond at sickest point, it brings me so much joy,” Bergeron said. “That life we lived during that time … you don’t realize how this doesn’t end for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Cancer doesn’t take off.”
Bergeron began Teddy Cares began before Kyle’s death, and it has become tradition in the years since his passing. The Bergeron family joins with their friends and other supporters in the community under the banner of “Kyle’s Krew” in order to raise money for the cause and keep Kyle’s memory alive.
She said the practice has become an ingrained part of her life at this time of year.
“It’s the only way I know at this point,” Bergeron said. “It’s fulfilling for me, because Christmas is a very tough time. Kyle passed away on Dec. 30. This keeps me going. (Delivering Teddy Cares bears) is my Christmas now. I haven’t tried a Christmas without it. It was just meant to be. It brings me a lot of joy.”
Many of those sponsoring the bears name them after a loved one who has passed away.
Originally, the Bergerons purchased the bears themselves for recipients, but the scale of the project eventually became too difficult to make work financially. Now, she buys the bears in bulk online, then cleans them and makes sure each bear is ready for delivery.
“We’d go to the local Breaux Mart and scoop as many of them as we could. It got to the point we couldn’t buy enough of them,” she said. “The ones we’re buying are really high-quality bears.”
This year, they’ve set up a non-profit account at First National Bank USA in Boutte for those wishing to sponsor. Others may mail a check in name of Teddy Cares to Vicki Bergeron, 115 Warren Drive, Luling 70070 or sponsor through Venmo (Vicki Bergeron 3).
“Those families go through some of the hardest times,” Bergeron said. “I look at it as taking a negative situation and creating something positive.”
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