Safari animals raise thousands for Glasgow hospital!

Safari animals raise over £90,000 at auction in aid of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity!

Article Source: The Big Stampede
Last Updated: 4 October 2017 10:06

A mass of giant safari animals which took over Hamilton this summer as part of The BIG Stampede have raised an incredible £90,050 at auction, bringing the popular art trail to a spectacular close.

Hundreds of bidders, sponsors, artists and spectators attended the auction held in Hamilton Town Hall on Friday (29 September 2017) to try and secure one of the bespoke sculptures which included a selection of lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos and gorillas. Those who could not be there in person were able to take part by phone including a lucky bidder from Cyprus who is the new owner of Patchula the giraffe designed by Andrea Cumming.

The highest value sculpture was Clyde the lion designed by artist Debbie Ryan which sold for £6,600, followed by Alfie Astonia the gorilla by Alice Dansey-Wright at £5,400 and giraffe, Out of the Loch designed by Peter Poole which went for £4,400.

Host, Heart FM’s Robin Galloway entertained the crowd who were also treated to a mash up of songs from Disney’s The Lion King from pupils at St. Mary’s Primary school in Hamilton, while auctioneer Andrew Smellie from Smellie L S & Sons Ltd, who also sponsored the event, led the intense bidding.

An additional sculpture, Lovely the Gorilla, was donated to the hospital with guests able to donate on the night to help bring the animal home after its adventures in Hamilton.

Profits from the auction will support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity’s Schiehallion Appeal, which will bring more of the latest cancer treatments to Scotland, giving young patients the best possible chance in their fight against cancer.

Commenting, Shona Cardle, Chief Executive at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The BIG Stampede was a hugely successful partnership and we are truly grateful to Hamilton BID and Wild in Art for their support. The trail was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and funds for our Schiehallion Appeal, which is raising money to support children from across Scotland with cancer and blood disorders. On behalf of the patients we treat and their families, I would like to say thank you to everyone who made the auction such a success.”

The auction marks the end of the successful trail organised by Hamilton Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Wild in Art, which saw over 100 animal sculptures, including almost 80 baby hippos designed by local Lanarkshire pupils, descend on Hamilton.

During their 10-week stay, the animals captured the hearts and imaginations of the tens of thousands of people who turned out to see them. The sculptures were then donated to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to be auctioned off.

Gareth Walker, BID Manager at Hamilton Business Improvement District (BID), said: “What a fantastic auction to end what has been a memorable summer for The BIG Stampede. The trail has proven a real draw, bringing increased visitors to the town and supporting the local economy, and it is great to see that they will now go to new homes while raising funds for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

“A lot of hard work has gone into the trail and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, from the bidders to everyone who has supported The BIG Stampede over the summer, including our sponsors, partners, artists and all the people who visited them and ensured the project was such a phenomenal success.”

Charlie Langhorne, Director at Wild in Art, added: “Congratulations to our event partners Hamilton BID for once again staging a fun, family friendly art event that all generations enjoyed and from which the whole town benefited. It will forever leave fond and happy memories of a summer when the stampede came to town and helped Glasgow Children’s Hospital continue its invaluable work.”