Taylor started helping with our 97.3 Nash FM Teddy Bear Drive 9 years ago after she was a recipient of a stuffed animal from our drive! She had been a patient of the Children’s hospital and was very sick due to a ruptured appendix that no one could diagnose! By the time she had been admitted, she had been septic for almost two weeks! Her care team was getting ready to prepare the parents for what no parent wants- they didn’t think she was going to make it. BUT many surgeries later, she DID make it!

During her extended stay, 97.3 (River Country at the time) stopped by with the Teddy Bear Drive and Taylor gained a new friend in her bear! Her parents couldn’t come with her to procedures and into surgery, but her bear could make her feel safe! The teddy bear made Taylor’s experience so much better, that she wanted to give back. The very next year, she launched her own drive to help 97.3’s drive, and 9 years ever it’s grown into it’s own monster! She collects bears all year for different projects and causes and will soon be able to officially document a non-for-profit, Cuddles for Kids.

To see more about Taylor’s mission and other upcoming projects, as well as her drop sites for HER part of the 97.3 Nash FM drive, check out her site here!

Check out the full interview with Taylor here: