Be More Ted

Welcome to Be More Ted

Ted Buddi Benches are being built in memory of an 'inspirational' young boy Ted Buddi Waring, who died in March 2023 after battling a brain tumour at age 7.

The charity has been set up in his name as a tribute to the 'angel' to ensure that his positive legacy will live on.

Ted was first diagnosed with a tumour when he was just seven months old when he started being sick and his mum noticed a slight eye movement.

From that point, he was in and out of hospital during years of treatment, including several cycles of chemotherapy and a number of operations.

In August 2022 Ted had an operation to 'debulk' his tumour. He underwent surgery at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Ted remained in hospital until his death on March 8 2023.

Throughout his life it was clear to see that Ted was special and unique. He became an inspiration to so many people who had to battle illnesses. People would often use his strength to pull them out of their own battles and diagnoses. People would say "I need to be a bit more like Ted and stop feeling sorry for myself" which is where the BE MORE TED comes from.

He had lots of treatment for the tumour, including lots of chemotherapy, some of which were four different types combined, which were 'very intense' and required him to have blood and platelet transfusions and be very poorly.

The tumour caused so many complications and issues which had to be treated daily with medications and injections. It also crushed his optic nerves, so much he was registered as blind. But despite this he never complained. He was always happy and wanted everybody else to be happy too.

He filled every day to the absolute full. He would wake every morning at 6am with a 'what are we doing today Mum?'

He also loved fire engines and dreamed of being a fireman.

Ted was happy, courageous, the kindest boy ever, he was generous, he thought of others first.

"He was loving, caring, he brought joy, his smile lit up the room, he was a giggler, he was funny, he had a great sense of humour. He was an old man in a little boy’s body."

Ted loved people. He collected friends wherever he went. He once met a man on a bench whom he sat with just listening to and chatting about the weather etc.

The man ended up making them both hats out of the newspaper he was reading. The man later said he had brought him so much joy just taking the time out to just sit with him and said if he didn’t have that he may not have spoken to a single person that day.

From that we decided to set up the charity Be More Ted to offer a friendly ear and comfort for anyone needing it with no criteria or discrimination. We hope his bravery, kindness and generousity can live on through the charity in his honour, which will provide benches to schools and public spaces to help tackle loneliness and mental health problems

Anybody feeling lonely or sad for whatever reason will find support and be signposted to groups or individuals who can help through Ted’s Buddi benches and the website.