Weldmar Hospicecare have told KeeP 106 they are thrilled to announce the resounding success of its inaugural art trail, Stampede by the Sea, which has raised an incredible £182,500 for the charity.
The eight week trail, featuring almost sixty vibrantly decorated elephant sculptures, captivated communities and visitors across Bridport, West Bay, and Lyme Regis from late March to May. The magnificent herd then moved to the Corn Exchange in Dorchester for a final exhibition before many were auctioned off at a special event hosted by Weldmar Hospicecare and partners Wild in Art.
The highlight of the auction was the sale of Sanctuary, a breathtaking sculpture designed and painted by Bridport-based artist Nicola Dennis. This stunning piece, which had been located outside the Weldmar Hospicecare shop in Bridport during the trail, featured an array of wildlife and fetched an impressive £25,000.
Nicola says, “I am absolutely delighted that Sanctuary raised that amount of money for such a good cause, and incredibly grateful to sponsors Mapperton for selecting my design. I was thrilled that Sanctuary was bought by such a lovely lady who shares my passion for wildlife, and hope that both my artwork and nature continue to bring her as much joy as they do me.”
Long-time Weldmar supporter, actor Martin Clunes, also attended the auction, lending his support by assisting in the auctioning of Round And About Dorset In Cartoons. This smaller sculpture, designed by artist Lyndon Wall and featuring caricatures of celebrities with Dorset connections and well-known local events, sold for £20,000.
Martin Clunes at the auction
CEO of Weldmar Hospicecare, Caroline Hamblett, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support shown to the charity: “Stampede by the Sea has been an absolutely incredible first art trail for Weldmar Hospicecare in partnership with Wild in Art, and has truly exceeded all expectations. We know that the wonderful elephants not only brought lots of joy to our local community, but also hope that it has significantly raised awareness of the vital services that Weldmar provides. The funds that have been raised will be crucial in allowing us to continue providing specialist care and support to patients and their families across Dorset. A huge thank you to everyone who visited the trail to see the elephants, to our valued partners and sponsors, and of course to those people who attended the auction and placed a bid to buy one of the magnificent sculptures.”
“Stampede by the Sea has been a fantastic project,” echoed Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art, “and it’s been a real privilege to work with Weldmar Hospicecare on something so meaningful and joyful. The creativity, community spirit, and commitment shown by the entire team has been truly impressive. A huge thank you to the amazing artists, the Weldmar team, the generous sponsors, and of course all the sculpture buyers — together you’ve helped create something truly special. It’s a brilliant example of how art can bring people together, spark conversations, and make a real difference.”
Funds were raised, not only through auction sales, but other fundraising initiates such as a raffle to win a sculpture from the trail, donations, merchandise sales and sponsorships. A Memory Elephant was also created by charity staff member Anissa Lee, hand painted names that had been dedicated by loved ones in return for a donation. The Memory Elephant will remain in the beautiful gardens at Weldmar’s hospice in Dorchester.
Smaller elephants on the trail that were designed by local schools have been returned to them to keep as a lasting reminder of their involvement.
