Meet Matthew “Ogre” Whaley. In 1984, while working at Sisters Chicken, Matthew was burned from the waist down from a 425° grease spill. 47% of his body was burned that evening and Matthew endured countless surgeries with Dr. Klausen at Richmond Heights Hospital.

For years, Matthew worked to give back to his community. He bought teddy bears to give to Metro Hospital, one of two burn care units in Ohio verified to care for adults and children by the American Burn Association. Matthew became a firefighter and even owned his own vending machine company to recycle aluminum cans to raise money to donate bears.

In 1993, when Matthew moved back to the area, Bears for Burns was created. Matthew has continued his tradition of giving bears to Metro Hospital Burn Unit. Some years, Matthew used his own money to buy bears for the burn victims. Other years, with the help of his friends and family and spaghetti dinners, Matthew was able to raise more than expected and gave Metro Hospital enough bears to last a year.

It has been 35 years since Matthew started donating bears.  Please help Bears for Burns and donate at the link below.  Your donations will help Matthew give that moment of joy in an unbearable situation.

Donations are also accepted at Key Bank Plaza Blvd. in Mentor.