CLAN Cancer Support launches Big Hop Trail throughout the north east

The six foot hares will be live until September

Author: Toni DawsonPublished 30th Jun 2023

40 man sized hare sculptures are going to be popping up across the north east and highlands as part of the CLAN Cancer Support Big Hop Trail.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, artist from across Scotland have decorated the six foot animals which will be live on the streets until the beginning of September.

CEO of CLAN Cancer Support, Fiona Fernie is looking forward to seeing the trail come to life throughout the school break.

She said: "We know that public art sculpture trails are massively popular with families and it just felt like the right time to do it over the summer holidays to give families the opportunity to do something a bit different.

"It's just something to celebrate everything that CLAN stands for in terms of our own community presence in each of the regions across the north east."

Aberdeen Beach, Pittodrie Stadium and Union Terrace Gardens are only some of the 19 locations within Aberdeen listed on the trail map.

Fiona added: "We've got 40 sculptures for 40 years of CLAN Cancer Support because we celebrate our 40th birthday in September of this year.

"There's a beautiful one that is going to be outside Marischal College which is mirrored glass, so it sparkles like a disco ball and it really is beautiful to look at and even on a dull day it will still capture the essence of Aberdeen which is everything we want to do," she said.

Penny Downs is the artist of the Let Your Dreams Take Flight sculpture and is excited for her work to be a part of the trail.

"We don't just get chosen, we all have to submit a design and get chosen so we're all really honored, every artist that is involved has been chosen to take part so it is a big honor," she said.

"I just love it, I love chatting to people around them they're a wonderful focus for the community and it gets everyone out and speaking to each other."

There is an app available for those with smart phones, which allows participants to collect the sculptures they have visited.

The trail will be live until the beginning of September, where after they will all be on display for the Farewell Weekend in the Aberdeen Music Hall on September 16 and 17.

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