Sheffield law firm Wake Smith Solicitors has joined the latest high-profile fundraising campaign for Sheffield Children’s Hospital by sponsoring a bear.
The Bears of Sheffield campaign, coordinated by The Children’s Hospital Charity, features a sculpture trail between 12 July and 29 September with 60 Big Bears and 100 Little Bears walking the streets of Sheffield.
Wake Smith has sponsored a Big Bear which will be decorated by professional artist Rob Lowe otherwise known as Supermundane, as part of the mass public-art exhibition. The 100 Little Bears will be decorated by school, college and nursery pupils who are all tasked with raising £750 for their bear.
At the end of the initiative, backed by Sheffield BID, the Big Bear sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money to transform the Cancer and Leukaemia Ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
John Baddeley, chairman of Wake Smith Solicitors and deputy chair of Sheffield BID board, said: “This event, organised by The Children’s Hospital Charity, brings together artists, businesses, schools and communities in what is set to be the biggest art event Sheffield has ever seen.
“This is the second animal related art project the hospital has been involved in. In 2016 the elephant sculptures from the Herd of Sheffield 2016 raised over £610,000 for the hospital with 58 large and 72 small elephants.
“Through our involvement in the Bears of Sheffield we hope to help raise even more for the hospital.
“As one of the first major events to be held since the pandemic, The Bears of Sheffield will demonstrate that the city is open for business as we welcome people back safely.”
All funds raised through the Bears of Sheffield will help to transform the Cancer and Leukaemia Ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital which treats children from babies through to 19 year olds from South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and as far south as Northampton.
The transformed ward will create a new home from home for families with space, privacy and natural light to improve hospital stays.
Tchad Western, Chief Fun Officer at the charity said: “The Bears of Sheffield is all about uniting communities, bringing the city together and making our mark, and having a LOT of fun!
“This can only be done with the incredible support of well-known businesses such as Wake Smith, every sponsor helps us reach out to another audience and get our messages out there.
“The business community is integral to making big charity initiatives like the Bears of Sheffield a success as it holds so much power both individually and collectively within our community and we are so grateful for everyone’s support.
“I’m confident that the Bears of Sheffield will be even bigger and better than the Herd of Sheffield and will help to make what seems like the most harrowing times for families, that little bit better.”
The project is part of The Children’s Hospital Charity’s ‘Building a Better Future’ appeal to raise a total of £14.25m, which was launched in July 2018 and will also build a new Helipad and Emergency Department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
