Ten year old Spencer Codling, from Skelton, North Yorkshire, who is bravely facing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), is the winner of the Cancer Support UK and Warmies® national Create your Dream Bestie competition. Children with cancer were invited to draw and enter a picture of their dream best friend, for the chance to see their creation brought to life as a cuddly toy made by leading sensory soft toy producer Warmies®.
Spencer’s charismatic design of a cute teddy with superhero qualities – Bat Cat – emerged as a clear winner through a public vote from a shortlist of six outstanding entries.
Bat Cat original drawing by Spencer
“I wanted to create a superhero teddy, which children could cuddle when having treatment to make them feel better,” says Spencer, already a keen artist who enjoys drawing.
Cancer Support UK CEO Mark Guymer and Warmies® Managing Director David Tweedale visited Spencer personally at Great Ormond Street Hospital, while he was recovering from treatment, to present him with his well-deserved prize – a magnificent soft toy version of Bat Cat, brought to life by Warmies®, using Spencer’s beautifully drawn “Bestie”. Spencer also received a framed copy of his winner’s certificate together with Warmie’s concept artwork for Bat Cat.
L to R Warmies CEO David Tweedale, Mark Guymer CEO Cancer Support UK, Spencer
The competition was designed to bring hope, encouragement and enjoyable distraction to children facing cancer. The tedium and discomfort they experience while receiving treatment in hospital is immense. Cancer Support UK and Warmies® wanted to give these children a positive activity to focus on, as well as the hope that their imaginary best friend would be chosen and made real.
Only 1,200 Bat Cat toys will be produced by Warmies®, so in order to secure one of these coveted cuddlies, it is essential to pre-order now, for just £24.99, from https://warmies.co.uk/products/warmies®-batcat
Bat Cat soft toy
All profits from the sale of Bat Cat will be donated by Warmies® to Cancer Support UK.
Karen Codling, Spencer’s mum said:
I want to say a huge thank you for this amazing opportunity. It has certainly put a smile on Spencer’s face. Spencer absolutely LOVES his teddy and already has plans to display it at home, together with his framed certificate. We are incredibly proud of Spencer – his cancer journey has been really tough and to see the positive impact that this competition has had on him is incredible. For him, just knowing his design was receiving votes made him happy, but then to find out he won, it just blew him away. The support he received was fantastic.”
Now being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Spencer faces mobility challenges, missed schooling, and long periods of isolation – yet remains a bright, funny, and compassionate boy. Supported by his loving family, especially big brother Isaac, Spencer’s strength is an inspiration to everyone who knows him.
Mark Guymer, CEO, Cancer Support UK, said:
“We’d like to congratulate Spencer on his fantastic Bat Cat design, which the public took to their hearts. We’d also like to say a huge thank you and well done to all the children who entered our competition – the standard was exceptionally high and all the children should be very proud of themselves. Every child who entered has received a Warmies’ soft toy as a prize.
“We especially want to thank Warmies® not only for partnering with us to help make a child’s dream come true, but also for generously offering to donate all profits from the sale of the limited edition Warmies® Bat Cat to Cancer Support UK. This will enable us to provide vital practical and emotional support to people living with and beyond cancer.”
Spencer’s prize – Bat Cat soft toy & certificate + his original drawing
Warmies® CEO, David Tweedale, said:
“Working with Cancer Support UK on this competition has meant a lot to us all. Helping bring Spencer’s Bat Cat idea to life was a special project, and seeing his reaction when he received the toy is something I won’t ever forget.
“Spencer’s family and the hospitals involved have been supportive throughout, and we’ll soon be offering a limited-edition Bat Cat to help raise money for Cancer Support UK, with all proceeds going directly to the charity.
“Raising awareness is just as important to us as fundraising. What these children and families go through each day is incredibly hard, and if we can help more people understand the great work Cancer Support UK does, then that’s a step towards making a real difference, and something we are proud to do.”
Congratulations to the fantastic runners-up:
Eva Rainey (age 15) (Wells, Somerset) – Maris Litoré
Archie Richards (age 6)(Blandford, Dorset) – Lira the Lemur
Lucas Gough (age 6)(Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees) – Spayce
Nancy Hughes (age 5)(Birmingham) – Lukey-Mia
Rosie Holmes (age 8)(Pontefract, West Yorkshire) – Heart bear
