With Christmas just around the corner, Newcastle Jets are delighted to announce the Club’s first ‘teddy bear toss’ at this weekend’s double header fixture.

This weekend, the Club will be encouraging fans to bring along a brand-new teddy bear to toss and be donated to a number of local charities.

A number of charities based in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley will be the recipients of teddy bears, and will ensure that every donated teddy bear is passed on to a child in need before Christmas Day.

These charities include but aren't limited to, Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army, Nova for Women and Children, and Samaritans.

Please note — Members and fans will only be permitted to toss teddy bears from Level One.

Just prior to kick-off, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter will be dropping by with Santa on board with Jets Members and fans to be directed to toss their bears shortly after.

Elves recruited from the Club’s Skills Program will be on hand around the ground to collect the teddy bears in order for them to be donated to the charities involved.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter undertakes emergency missions throughout Northern NSW with every flight now carrying a NSW Ambulance Critical Care Paramedic and NSW Health medical professionals to ensure advanced aeromedical care for our community.

Newcastle Jets CEO, Lawrie McKinna, has encouraged fans to get behind the initiative.

“We’d love to see every Jets fan bring along a teddy bear this weekend and help give some kids in need something to lift the spirits this Christmas,” McKinna said.

“The idea is one that came from our supporter group, Terrace Novocastria, and when they brought it to us we were happy to get right behind it and make it happen.

“This is something we’d love to see become an annual event and we’re excited to see Newcastle come out and get behind our first ever teddy bear toss.”

Gates open at McDonald Jones Stadium at 3.30pm on Sunday 15 December, with our Westfield W-League side taking on Sydney FC from 4pm. Our Hyundai A-League boys will face Melbourne City with that game kicking off at 6.30pm.

Kids under 16 who bring along a brand new teddy bear will get into Sunday's game for free by heading to the Jets marquee in the precinct outside the Western Grandstand.