Sheffield Children’s Hospital charity postpones major fundraising project due to coronavirus

The charity which supports Sheffield Children’s Hospital has postponed a major fundraising project by a year due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
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The Children’s Hospital Charity’s highly-anticipated ‘Bears of Sheffield’ sculpture trail, which was due to start in July, will now take place in the summer of 2021.

The project would have supported the appeal to transform the cancer and leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and aimed to surpass the £600,000 raised during The Children’s Hospital Charity’s previous sculpture trail, the Herd of Sheffield.

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It would have seen hundreds of bear sculptures on display across Sheffield and had been supported by 100 schools, 60 artists and dozens of businesses from across the region.

David-Vernon Edwards, charity director, said they had taken the decision to postpone the event ‘with a heavy heart’, but that people’s safety had to be their ‘top priority’.

He said: “The Bears of Sheffield trail was designed to be open to all and unite businesses, communities, artists and schools from throughout the city and across the country in support of Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

“The enjoyment, health and safety of everyone taking part has always been our top priority. We are determined to continue to support the national effort to protect the NHS, save lives and slow the spread of coronavirus in line with the latest UK government guidance.

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“We owe it to everyone who has backed this project with such enthusiasm to make it the best it can possibly be and that can only happen when everyone can enjoy the trail safely.

The Bears of Sheffield sculpture trail will now take place in 2021.The Bears of Sheffield sculpture trail will now take place in 2021.
The Bears of Sheffield sculpture trail will now take place in 2021.

“With social distancing likely to continue as an essential requirement in the fight against Covid-19, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the Bears of Sheffield until 2021.”

Charity bosses added they were still ‘looking forward’ to bringing Bears of Sheffield to the city next summer and would share the new trail dates as soon as they could.

If you would like to make a donation to support the patients and staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital you can donate online at www.tchc.org.uk, call 0114 321 2470 or text SHEFFCHILDRENS to 70085 to donate £5.