Bunky Bear and Pals
As written in another article, a teddy bear named Bunky is the mascot for the Kids Beating Cancer foundation for the Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric Transplant Center at the Florida Hospital for Children.
Fortunately, though, Bunky doesn’t have go it alone. He has the assistance of many celebrities who smile at and for Bunky in photo shoots, and of celebrity photographer Michael Freeby, without whom there would be no such delightful photos.
Freeby himself has an interesting story. He was originally a model, with no photographic experience or training. Then one day a popular fashion magazine for whom he was modeling decided to conduct an interesting experiment—put the models behind the camera and see what happened.
Freeby knew what he did and didn’t like about the photo shoot process and applied that knowledge when he was on the other side of the camera. His first shoot ended up being with Lorenzo Lamas, and to use Freeby’s words, “It was super fun!” And the rest, as they say, is history.
He has now been a photographer specializing in celebrities for approximately four years, and has had two photo exhibitions, one in Los Angeles and the other one in New York City. And he recently did a black and white photo shoot with Tab Hunter, now age 86.
Freeby’s love of teddy bears, and all kinds of stuffed animals for that matter, started when he was young. He said he’s been collecting “almost always” starting with his first stuffed animal, Gizmo, from the Warner Bros. movie Gremlins.
He got involved with Kids Beating Cancer because he wanted to be part of something that was important, something that involved life and death themes. And what could be more important than helping provide assistance to kids with a life-threatening disease such as cancer. “Plus the fact that the mascot was a teddy bear!” Freeby volunteered. He enjoys visiting the kids and is touched by their stories.
When Freeby first started working with Kids Beating Cancer he noticed that the charity’s mascot, Bunky, was not featured in the photographs of the celebrities who were part of its public awareness campaigns. That soon changed, however, and now Bunky is front and center of the photography shoots as the celebrities participating in the campaign hold Bunky and “ooh” and “aah” over the cuddly teddy bear in various poses—from an elegant and mischievous Carol Channing to a rough and tumble looking Danny Trejo to a smiling Richard Simmons—Freeby’s skill in getting charming poses is evident.
“Most of the Kids Beating Cancer photo shoots take place in California,” he said. “The Bunky The Bear the celebrities hold is the same one that children receive at the Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric Marrow Transplant Center in Orlando, and also in hospital oncology units worldwide through the Bunky Pals program.”
(Thanks to Michael Freeby for the above photo of Richard Simmons and Bunky)