The Bladen County Extension and Community Association (ECA) had a community workday recently to make bears for Victory Junction, a camp for terminally ill children near Ashboro.

The project gives the children a chance to be "normal" for a week of fun.

When the children leave, they are given a quilt that was on their bed that week and a bear. It is not just a Teddy Bear, but a checker flag bear.

The camp was started by the Richard Petty family, a well-known racing family, which led to the idea of the checkered flag bear.

Clubs across the state make the bears as a project and send them to the camp to be given away each summer.

Bethel ECA Club President Dianna Roberts said the local ECA is getting ready for next year's bear-making project.

Anyone interested in participating in the ECA program, a community service organization may call 862-4591 for information.

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