Tommee Tippee make 500 ‘little blue cups’ after dad’s Twitter plea for his autistic son goes viral
Ben Carter will only drink from one specific style of children's cup, but it hasn't been made for 20 years
A DAD's heartfelt appeal on social media for strangers to help him find a replica of his autistic son's Tommee Tippee cup has prompted the baby product firm to manufacture a special batch just for him.
Marc Carter, 42, from Torrington, North Devon, posted the appeal on Twitter in November asking users if they could "please help me find a new cup for Ben".
His son, 13-year-old Ben Carter, has severe autism and has only drunk from a specific twin-handled blue Tommee Tippee cup from the age of two.
His parents were able to replace the cup three years ago, but it is now worn out and Marc posted in search for as many replacements as possible.
Marc's Twitter appeal went viral, with responses ranging from as far as the US, Brazil and Australia. Kind strangers offered to post Marc and his son their cups.
The cup's UK-based maker also joined the hunt, helping to scour the social media responses to Marc's appeal and searching its factories and warehouses across the globe. They eventually discovered a mould for the exact design Ben loves in China.
Now the company, based in Cramlington, Northumberland, has said it will make 500 of the retro drinks holders for Ben at its factory.
Marc said he is overwhelmed by the global response and is shocked to hear that Tommee Tippee is making a special run of the long-lost mug for Ben.
"I had a phone call from Tommee Tippee for an update and catch up and thought it was to tell me how many cups were coming," Said Marc.
"But they told me they have found a mould to make Ben's little blue cup," He added, "it was a shock, a surprise and bizarre that they managed to do it."
"They have been looking in China, scouring warehouses and factories and they found it - Tommee Tippee, you guys are incredible."
The company stated: "Like people all over the world, we’ve been incredibly touched by Ben’s story, and wanted to do everything we could to help find the cups he loves.
“We asked our staff in offices across the world to look through archived product samples in case we had a case of them hidden in a cupboard or warehouse.
"Unfortunately we didn’t, as it’s almost 20 years since this style of cup was manufactured, so we looked into the possibility of creating a special production run for Ben.
“Starting the production of a cup that hasn’t been manufactured for almost two decades isn’t a straightforward process, but we’re thrilled to confirm that we’re able to do it.
“Production will start on 500 cups for Ben this week and will delivered to his dad, Marc, early in the New Year.
“We’re confident that this production run, combined with the cups that have been sent by truly amazing people from across the world, will make a real difference to Ben, and give him enough cups for the rest of his life.”
