Stolen Teddy Bear With Dying Mother’s Last Message Returned To Owner

• Mara Soriano, 28, had her bag and teddy bear stolen amid a hectic move in Vancouver.
• After several Twitter posts involving celebrities who supported her search for MamaBear by offering rewards, the teddy bear found its way back to Mara with the help of two ‘kind Samaritans’.
• The reward rose to $15,000 before Mara requested that donations be routed to Sunnybrook hospice instead.

A teddy bear stolen along with a bag of valuables has found its way home in to its own Mara Soriano in Vancouver after some high-end tweeting and a $15,000 reward was posted.

To most people, it may seem trivial to lose a toy, but 28-year-old Mara’s MamaBear is special as it holds the last gift from her mother Marilyn who passed away from cancer.

“It was so important to me because she had a recording on it that was specifically just for me that said she loved me, she was proud of me, and she’ll always be with me,” Mara said. “I hugged it every time I missed her.”

She launched a full search for the bear with her mother’s loving message, starting with a flyer and a Twitter post.

Her search for the stolen bag which held important documents, and the iPad and Nintendo Switch, was posted on Twitter, but her desperate search for the bear was another story.

Mara Soriano is desperately seeking this teddy bear stolen in Vancouver's West End. It has a final message from her mother, Marilyn, who died of cancer in 2019. Mara shared this video with @cbcnewsbc pic.twitter.com/GJYLu7QjK1

— Liam Britten (@liam_britten) July 26, 2020

The story behind the bear’s importance was not lost to the citizens of B.C.

Hi mara, if there's any way I can help ensure you get a successor bear, please let me know. I'd be more than willing to fund a successor bear. Nobody should have to go through what you went through. Please know all of BC is here for you. Let us know how we can help.

— 🌈Trevor_Pott(Black Lives Matter); (@cakeis_not_alie) July 26, 2020

The story also reached Deborah Goble, a TV and radio reporter for CBC, who posted about it on Twitter.

If you see this missing bear in the west end please email [email protected]
It was in a herschel back pack when stolen along with an iPad.
Mara, the owner says it has her mom’s voice inside saying, ‘I love you I’m proud of you, I’ll always be with you. Her mom died last year pic.twitter.com/ipfrzqKXsf

— Deborah Goble (@CBCDeborahGoble) July 25, 2020

In response to Goble’s post, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds offered a $5,000 reward along with “so much Aviation Gin it’ll be affected by the tide.”

Reynolds offered a reward for help in finding Mara’s bear was posted on Twitter.

Along with Reynolds, American actor and director Zach Braff also showed support to Mara’s plight.

I NEED THIS BEAR TO COME HOME!!!!!! https://t.co/UGHlJJPOwE

— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) July 26, 2020

Canadian actor Dan Levy also called for help on Mara’s behalf.

Canada, please help find this bear. https://t.co/yCGoGrEDr6

— dan levy (@danjlevy) July 26, 2020

Other netizens offered an additional reward bringing it to a total of $15,000 for anyone who could help MamaBear return home to Mara.

Mara’s plight also reached Build-a-Bear and Herschel who both offered a replacement for her lost belongings.

Hey everyone! Build-a-bear got in contact with me and so did Herschel about replacing the things that were taken. I know it won't be the same bear that my mom made with her own hands, but now it'll remind me of her AND the time the world came together for us for a few days. ❤️

— mara soriano | MAMABEAR IS HOME! (@drawmaradraw) July 28, 2020

Mara Soriano and her fiance found the bear with the help of “two kind Samaritans.”

Kevin Vance, Canadian-born, American-raised actor and U.S. Military Veteran offered to make a donation in honor of Mara’s mother.

Mara showed her gratitude for the overwhelming response to her search for the lost bear, but requested that the offer for rewards be rerouted as donations to Sunnybrook hospice instead.

American director Rawson Thurber made an offer for $5,000 to be sent to Sunnybrook.

You got it, Mara! My five k will go that way (sorry for the unintentional rhyme). Thrilled the bear is back! That @VancityReynolds is a heckuva guy!

— Rawson Thurber (@RawsonThurber) August 3, 2020