New ward at Sheffield Children's Hospital will open next year following success of Bears of Sheffield Auction

The success of the Bears of Sheffield auction means the fundraising target for the new cancer and leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital has been met – and it will open next year.
The Bears of Sheffield prepare to be auctioned off at The Crucible in aid of The Children's Hospital CharityThe Bears of Sheffield prepare to be auctioned off at The Crucible in aid of The Children's Hospital Charity
The Bears of Sheffield prepare to be auctioned off at The Crucible in aid of The Children's Hospital Charity

The Bears of Sheffield were sold at an auction at The Crucible on Monday, hosted by BBC presenter and Strictly star Dan Walker, and raised a massive £525,000 in total, enough to meet the fundraising target.

Dan, who attended the auction with his Strictly partner Nadiya Bychkova, bought the golden Nano Bear, which had been designed by artist Roanna Wells, for £20,000.

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The Bears’ auction was even more successful than the Herd of Sheffield auction in 2016, which raised £410,000 for a new X-ray machine for the hospital.

The Bears of Sheffield prepare to be auctioned off at The Crucible in aid of The Children's Hospital CharityThe Bears of Sheffield prepare to be auctioned off at The Crucible in aid of The Children's Hospital Charity
The Bears of Sheffield prepare to be auctioned off at The Crucible in aid of The Children's Hospital Charity

Cheryl Davidson, project manager for the Bears of Sheffield, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the trail this summer. “The city’s biggest-ever public arts event has brought joy and smiles to people’s faces once again, capturing the imagination of thousands of residents and visitors.

“I would also like to say thank you to everyone who supported the auction last night, either in the room or from home, and stepped forward to help Sheffield Children’s once again. Thanks to their generosity we raised over £525,000, completing our three-year charity appeal for a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at the hospital, which will be open to patients early next year. Together, we did it!

“This simply wouldn’t have been possible without you. On behalf of everyone in The Children’s Hospital Charity Team, a huge and heartfelt thank you.”

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Sheffield artist Pete McKee's bear, a light blue statue titled Thank You Sheffield Children’s Hospital, sold for a record-breaking £30,000. His sheep design for the Herd of Sheffield was also the highest selling on that occasion too, going for £22,000.

Pete, who is currently in Northern General Hospital after suffering severe heart failure, wrote online: “Going to have a lovely kip tonight in my hospital bed.

"Thinking of the little uns in Sheff children’s hospital tonight tucked up in bed too. Thank you to the incredibly wonderful people who bid on bears this evening and the amazing winning bid for my bear. I love you.”