Mum makes appeal after daughter loses grandfather and teddy in one day

A mum has made an emotional appeal to the people of Blackpool after her daughter lost her grandfather and her treasured teddy in one day.
It was only when the family returned to Sunderland that she realised her daughter Mia's beloved teddy 'Monk Monk' was missing.It was only when the family returned to Sunderland that she realised her daughter Mia's beloved teddy 'Monk Monk' was missing.
It was only when the family returned to Sunderland that she realised her daughter Mia's beloved teddy 'Monk Monk' was missing.

Jodie Smith travelled to Blackpool from her home in Sunderland with her daughter to break the devastating news that her father had died to family members.

But it was only when the family returned to Sunderland that she realised her daughter Mia's beloved teddy 'Monk Monk', that was given to Mia by her grandfather, was missing.

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Jodie now says her daughter Mia, 9, has been heartbroken by her losses and has cried herself to sleep every night.

In a Facebook appeal that has since been shared over 2,000 times since it was posted on Sunday, Jodie asked people in Blackpool to look out for the bear.

The family were in Blackpool on Friday 24 February visited Queen's Drive in Staining, Harry Feeney Toyota on Vicarage Ln, Great Barton, Lytham road, Highfield Road outside B&M, Pembroke Avenue Bispham and Red Bank Road.

Since the appeal Jodie has been overwhelmed with the response and has had offers of new toys and bears from kind hearted strangers.

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She said: "My father died quite suddenly and we're all going through a lot at the moment. Mia is struggling to sleep without her bear and it would mean so much if we could get it back.

"I have been overwhelmed by the response we've had - complete strangers have even been wandering the streets of Blackpool looking for the bear."

In her original post to her Facebook page Jodie said: "I know it's only a teddy to some people but Mia was given it when she was tiny. On Friday we learnt that her grandfather had died so we got her out of bed to drive to Blackpool as I wanted to tell my family the news in person.

"So naturally Monk Monk came with us however, when we got home to Sunderland at midnight Monk Monk wasn't in the car so we can only think that it fell out when we were getting in and out of the car.

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"I am overwhelmed with the amount of shares we've had and the amount of people that have been out looking for it.

"Mia says she can't believe she's lost the only person she could talk to and not be embarrassed to cry in front of when she needs her the most.

"She's absolutely devastated."

The appeal was bolstered after it was taken on by Blackpool Police who shared by to their Facebook page.

In the post a spokesman for Blackpool Police said: "This is not our usual type of post, but after all we are here to help people.

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"Tonight we saw this Facebook appeal to try and reunite 9 year old Mia with her missing teddy, that she has recently lost in Blackpool.

"With the power of social media and help from our 20,000 followers, we would love to be able to help Mia and her family, so please share this appeal."