Bears of Sheffield to be auctioned off to complete Sheffield Children’s Hospital cancer ward appeal

The finale of the Bears of Sheffield this Monday sees the auction of the vibrantly decorated 2-metre tall sculptures that have brightened up the city over the summer.
By Kian Rains
Published 15th Oct 2021, 16:58 BST
Updated 15th Oct 2021, 22:00 BST
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All 60 large bear Sculptures will be auctioned off to raise much-needed funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital to transform their Cancer and Leukaemia Ward.

The trail, which celebrated Sheffield’s heritage and the best of its creative talent, was the biggest public art event the city has ever seen and followed on from the hugely successful Herd of Sheffield elephant trail in 2016.

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The project has helped fundraise for a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, with the Bears currently gathered at Meadowhall for the farewell weekend.

The Bears of Sheffield are heading for auction to complete the Sheffield Children’s Hospital cancer ward appeal.The Bears of Sheffield are heading for auction to complete the Sheffield Children’s Hospital cancer ward appeal.
The Bears of Sheffield are heading for auction to complete the Sheffield Children’s Hospital cancer ward appeal.

The Children’s Hospital Charity hope the auction on Monday, October 18, will complete the fundraising for the new ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The ward is the principal treatment centre for children with Cancer and Leukaemia from babies through to 19-year-olds in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and Lincolnshire – it will also see patients from across the UK for chemotherapy, operations and bone marrow transplants.

While the ward provides excellent care, the facilities are dated, and in 2018, a charity appeal was launched to build a new ward.

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The Charity has raised over £2m of the £2.75m cost, and building work started in May.

Andrew has raised over £150,000 for The Children’s Hospital CharityAndrew has raised over £150,000 for The Children’s Hospital Charity
Andrew has raised over £150,000 for The Children’s Hospital Charity

Should the Bears of Sheffield raise the final total needed, the new ward will be open to patients and families later this year.

The auction will take place on Monday, October 18, from 6pm until around 10pm at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

On the day, there will be an extra-special guest, former ward patient Andrew Davies, who will be delivering the keynote speech.

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To express his gratitude for the life-saving care he received at Sheffield Children’s, Andrew dedicated himself to repaying the cost of his bone marrow transplant to the NHS.

Artistic impression of a single patient bedroom on the new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s HospitalArtistic impression of a single patient bedroom on the new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital
Artistic impression of a single patient bedroom on the new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Over more than six years, Andrew raised over £150,000 for The Children’s Hospital Charity, with the total divided between the ward fund and leukaemia research at the hospital.

To purchase tickets for the event go to www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Related topics:SheffieldSheffield Children's HospitalBearsCancer