More than 200 children aged between four and 10 brought their sick or injured teddies to attend the third annual RCSI Teddy Bear Hospital on Saturday, 4 February at 123 St Stephen's Green.

This event was hosted by medical, physiotherapy and pharmacy students in the RCSI Paediatrics Society and was in aid of BUMBLEance, The Children's National Ambulance Service.

The free event was be RCSI's largest Teddy Bear Hospital to date and brought lots of cheer to young children by educating them about healthcare and well-being in a fun, interactive environment. Many children view hospitals as scary places so this event was created to teach children about what goes on in a hospital and most importantly, how to stay well through a healthy diet and exercise.

The children were led through the ‘hospital’ by the 80 RCSI student volunteers who triaged, examined, diagnosed and treated teddy bears who were feeling under the weather! Many teddies arrived with a variety of problems including broken legs, asthma, ear infections and even a cardiac arrest! Our student organisers have said that all teddies have got a new lease of life after their treatments.

All of children participants got the chance to rotate through the ten stations of the Teddy Bear hospital, created to mirror aspects of a real hospital. This included a triage station, an X-ray and MRI station, pharmacy station, music & heart sounds station, handwashing station, surgical station and even a sewing station that restored any torn teddies. A range of fun and educational games were played on the day which promoted healthy eating and exercise. Arts and crafts activities allowed children to make cards for real sick children being transported by BUMBLEance and face painters were also on hand.

All of the proceeds raised from the day went directly to BUMBLEance, the world's first fully interactive, state of the art, Children's National Ambulance Service. BUMBLEance provides a national service throughout the island of Ireland for critically ill children who require transportation between their home and children's hospitals, hospices, national treatment centres and respite centres. BUMBLEance also provides a very unique and specialised service through its end of life Angel Trips, a terminally ill child's final journey.

The RCSI Paediatrics Society could not put on such a worthy event without the generous donations and support from our community and local businesses. A huge thank you to the sponsors this year, which include: Fleming Medical Ltd., Clarendon Medical, Urban Kitchen, Butlers Chocolates, Dublin Doughnut Company, Emer's Kitchen, Keogh's crisps, Haribo Ireland, Caufield Industrial, Accents Café, NCD Medical, Smile Dental Clinic Dundrum, Sukrin, Moo Free Chocolates, Ffyfes, Gleeson, Cocu, Nairn's Oatcakes, Free'ist, iBrand and Mulrines.