"Thousands of soft toys rained onto the basketball court in Madrid on Sunday as young fans took part in the fourth annual ‘Teddy Bear Rain’, a charity initiative organised by Movistar Estudiantes to benefit local children. Footage shows children participating in a countdown before throwing their stuffed toys onto court during halftime of the game against Caja Rural CB Zamora at Movistar Arena. As the halftime buzzer sounded, children and adults alike hurled toys from the stands, completely covering the basketball court, while officials and volunteers quickly moved in to collect them. "Today at the Estudiantes game, in exchange for a toy — a plush toy — we provide a ticket,” Rocio, one of the organisers, told reporters. “In exchange for what we collect, which is later taken to Fundacion Madrina to ensure there are toys for children who otherwise wouldn't have any." The fourth edition of the Teddy Bear Rain, organised by Movistar Estudiantes in collaboration with CaixaBank, took place during halftime of the game against Caja Rural CB Zamora. More than 8,300 fans attended the match, and while official figures are still being finalised, organisers said over 5,000 toys were collected. The donated plush toys will be given to Fundacion Madrina, which supports vulnerable families and children across the region. The initiative allowed fans to exchange a new stuffed toy for a free match ticket, encouraging families and children to participate during the Christmas holiday period. The traditional ‘lluvia de peluches’, or teddy bear toss, has become a hallmark of Madrid basketball, blending sport with solidarity and ensuring that thousands of children receive gifts during the holiday season."