Brighten Your Day

Ryan Reynolds Offers Reward For Woman's Stolen Teddy Bear That Contains Sentimental Message

July 26, 2020

Ryan Reynolds is hoping a "no questions asked" monetary reward will inspire a thief to return a teddy bear that contained a final voice message from a woman's mother who recently passed away.

Vancouver resident Mara Soriano says she was unloading a uHaul truck while moving into the city's west end on Friday when a black Herschel backpack she had placed beside the truck was picked up and stolen.

While the backpack contained several important and expensive items - including passports and an iPad pro - the most treasured item now missing is "a super sentimental" Build-A-Bear.

The bear contained a final message Soriano's mother recorded shortly before she passed away from cancer last year.

Mara and her mother

The message says: "I love you, I' m proud of you, I'll always be with you."

"It was the last thing I have of hers," Soriano said. "I can replace everything else, but not that."

A reporter for CBC in Vancouver came across the social media post by Soriano and shared her story to Twitter with a photo of the missing bear.

"If you see this missing bear in the west end please email Deborah.Goble@cbc.ca . 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."

Reynolds, who was born in Vancouver, retweeted the post, commenting, "$5,000 to anyone who returns this bear to Mara. Zero questions asked. I think we all need this bear to come home."

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

Soriano told Vancouver is Awesome she is "absolutely floored by the attention" her story is receiving. "I'm just overwhelmed and completely in shock. There have been so many negative news articles from Vancouver lately and seeing everyone come together so positively like this after such a devastating situation is so heartwarming and brings us so much hope we'll get Mamabear back."