Dainere’s favourite teddy bear, Theodore, had travelled everywhere with his owner since the age of four, and in her final months he was right beside her as she realised her dreams of feeding a cheetah and riding in a Hummer with her.
Theodore was the favourite of Dainere’s collection of 14 Myer Christmas Bears – a huge collection that started the year she was born in 1998 and continues to this day.
Being surrounded by the bears gave Dainere incredible comfort during her four-year battle with brain cancer; a fight that began in 2011 with a brain tumour and ended with Dainere’s death in 2013. (She was buried with Theodore.)
In an announcement this week, retailer Myer confirmed this year’s Christmas Bear is named Anthony – a tribute to Dainere and the entire Anthoney family.
Anthony the bear will be available for purchase at every Myer store in Australia, with $1 from every bear going to the Myer Stores Community Fund.
