Old cup reborn for autistic teen

    A Chinese-owned UK company has come to the aid of a 14-year-old autistic British boy by reactivating production of his favorite 1990s baby drinking cup at a plant in China.

    Mayborn Group, based in the northeast of England, jumped into action after hearing of an appeal by Marc Carter, whose 14-year-old autistic son Ben will drink only from a blue Tommee Tippee cup, which the company last produced nearly 20 years ago. Ben's favorite cup was getting worn and needed replacing.

    Mayborn, which was acquired by Shanghai Jahwa (Group) Co in April, was formerly owned by investment group 3i.

    "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," Mayborn's spokesman Matt de Leon said.

    "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," de Leon told China Daily. "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."

    The original molds for the cup were finally unearthed at the factory of one of their contractors, Jackel China. The supplier is based in the Changping section of Dongguan, in Guangdong province. The factory is discussing the cup's color with Ben's father, Marc, and production has entered the final stage, an official who asked to remain anonymous at the Dongguan government publicity department told China Daily. Factory officials could not be reached late Thursday.

    The plan is to do a special run of 500 cups in time for Ben to receive the first one in early 2017.

    "We're convinced this production run will make a real difference to Ben, and give him enough cups for the rest of his life," de Leon added.

    Ben's father Marc tweeted: "Can't believe Tommee Tippee have managed to find the mold and are going to make me so many. They have been truly incredible, such a genuinely lovely and caring team."

    He told Tyne-Tees Television: "I'm trying to find a production company to help me make a film about this story and to go to China to film the cups being made, but also include the stories of so many other families who have their own Bens, with their version of the little blue cup, be it a toy, blanket, teddy or a cup.

    "It helps with the conversation about autism and helps get the debate going," he said.

    翻译稿：

停产水杯为自闭症少年重生

    为了一名14岁的英国自闭症男孩，一家被中国企业收购了的英国公司重启在中国的生产线，专门为他生产其最心爱的一款上世纪90年代的婴儿水杯。

    卡特14岁的儿子本患有自闭症，只肯用一只蓝色的水杯喝水，而这只水杯是梅伯恩集团旗下的汤美天地品牌将近20年前的一款产品。可是本最心爱的水杯已经用坏了，急需换一只新的。总部位于英格兰东北部的梅伯恩集团得知自闭症男孩的爸爸马克·卡特的求助信息后立即采取行动。

    今年四月份，上海家化（集团）有限公司从英国投资公司3i集团手里收购了梅伯恩集团。

    梅伯恩集团的发言人马特·里昂表示：“和全世界的网友一样，我们被本的故事深深触动，希望可以尽我们所能帮忙找到那款他心爱的水杯。”

    “我们发动公司在全球的分支机构逐一查看保存的产品样品，也许在某个橱柜或者仓库里还能找到一箱这款水杯，” 里昂在接受《中国日报》的采访时说道。“非常遗憾的是我们并没有找到。这款水杯已经是将近20年前生产的产品了，所以我们决定看看是否能为本单独生产一批。”

    最终梅伯恩集团在中国的一家代工厂里找到了这款水杯的原始模具。这家代工厂是位于广东省东莞市常平镇的宝达美塑胶制品厂。东莞市宣传部的一名工作人员向《中国日报》透露，工厂正在和本的爸爸马克商量水杯的颜色，生产已经进入了最后阶段。截至周四，记者未能联系上工厂的负责人。

    工厂计划为本生产500个水杯，希望2017年初本就能收到第一只水杯。

    里昂补充道：“我们确信这批水杯会给本带来真正的帮助，也足够他用一辈子。”

    本的爸爸马克在推特上写道：“无法相信汤美天地找到了模具而且会为我们生产这么多只水杯。真是令人难以置信，他们是一个如此可爱、富有同情心的团队。”

    马克在接受泰恩蒂斯电视台的采访时透露：“我正在联系制作公司，希望能帮我拍一部关于这件事的电影，也会去中国拍摄水杯生产的过程。除了我们的故事，这部电影还会采访许多和本一样的自闭症孩子家庭，讲述关于他们的‘蓝色小水杯’的故事，也许是一个玩具、一张毯子、一只泰迪熊又或者也是一个杯子。”

    “这部电影会推进公众对自闭症的讨论，为这个话题带来持续关注。”马克说。