Over 200 teddy bears donated to Dayton Children’s in honor of Mercer Co. girl who drowned

More than 200 stuffed animals were donated to Dayton Children’s Hospital yesterday in honor of a Mercer County girl who drowned in 2016.

Earlier this month, Celina City Schools held a Teddy Bear drive for Joyful Jade.

Jade Riggs was 10-years-old when she drowned in a river by Grand Lake St. Marys.

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Investigators say she wandered away from home and fell into the river. They think she may have been throwing rocks in the water when she accidentally fell in.

Since then, the teddy bear drive has collected stuffed animals every year for patients at Dayton Children’s.

Over the last two year, they have donated over 500 bears in Jade’s honor.