By Kristy Puchko | Social Media | July 27, 2020 |
By Kristy Puchko | Social Media | July 27, 2020 |
It began with a backpack, stolen in Vancouver on Friday. Mara Soriano (28) was in the middle of moving into a new apartment when an opportunistic thief snatched the backpack, which contained an iPad, an Ninendo Switch, and a very special Build-A-Bear. Dressed in a white denim jacket, red-and-white dress, and glasses, the bear contained an audio recording of the voice of Soriano’s late mother, who passed away from cancer in June.
“At hospice her voice was different. Much softer. Not the mom I grew up with,” she told CBC, “That bear is the last memory I have of her speaking in her normal voice. She said that she loved me and she was proud of me and that she’ll always be with me.”
“It’s a reminder of home,” she continued the Vancouverite who immigrated to Canada from the Philippines when she was nine. “The bear has a message in it in Filipino. It says ‘I love you,’ but in our language. So it’s very specific and very unique.”
While the bag also contained expensive electronics and official documents including passports, Soriano is only seeking the return of the bear. She put up missing-person posters and spread word of the search through social media.
🧸 A stolen teddy bear with a voice message from a #Vancouver woman’s late mother has still not been found. Full story: @CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130 @BT_Vancouver pic.twitter.com/VoTzdUdGji
— Ashley Grace Burr (@AshleyBurr_) July 27, 2020
Any help appreciated pic.twitter.com/infn9Gyi2K
— mara soriano | FIND MAMABEAR VANCOUVER (@drawmaradraw) July 26, 2020
As her story spread, Deadpool star and proud Canadian Ryan Reynolds took notice. He joined the search by spreading the word and offering a $5,0000 reward for the bear’s return.
Vancouver: $5,000 to anyone who returns this bear to Mara. Zero questions asked. I think we all need this bear to come home. https://t.co/L4teoxoY50
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) July 25, 2020
In response, director Rawson Thurber and talk show host George Strombolupolusadded added to the reward recovery pot.
I’ll match that. Good on ya, Mr. Reynolds. Let’s get this little fella back to Mara. Come on people!
— Rawson Thurber (@RawsonThurber) July 26, 2020
I’ll add 5g to that. https://t.co/o7qwUnO8Np
— Prime Mixister StroumPHÃ’ulopoulosðŸ²ðŸ¿ðŸ (@strombo) July 26, 2020
Other celebs helped spread the word, including Zach Braff, Dan Levy, and Taika Waititi.
I NEED THIS BEAR TO COME HOME!!!!!! https://t.co/UGHlJJPOwE
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) July 26, 2020
Canada, please help find this bear. https://t.co/yCGoGrEDr6
— dan levy (@danjlevy) July 26, 2020
ðŸ˜ðŸ‘‡ðŸ½ðŸ‘‡ðŸ½ðŸ‘‡ðŸ½ https://t.co/YzAJR9zPFg
— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) July 26, 2020
Surveillance video has surfaced which might help identify the suspect. However, for now, the search for the mama bear is still on.
If you have any information about the location of mama bear, email Soriano at [email protected]