to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Last night was a roaring success after an auction of lion sculptures raised nearly quarter of a million pounds for a new state-of-the-art cancer centre.
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It was a night of celebration and generosity as the sculptures from Lions at Large - The Pride of Gloucestershire Trail, went under the hammer to raise funds for The Big Space Cancer Appeal.
With nearly 200 guests, the auction took place at the beautiful Gloucester Cathedral. The evening was a huge success, with people bidding in the room and online to give their favourite pride member a forever home. Hosted by BBC’s Steve Knibbs, the event was overseen by auctioneers Harper & Field.
Richard Smith, Associate Director of the Charity, said: "It was an unforgettable evening at the Lions at Large auction and we are absolutely thrilled to announce that our pride raised over £370,000 in total! This amazing amount brings us even closer to making the dream of a bigger, brighter home for cancer care in Gloucestershire a reality.”
"We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us; whether through tonight’s auction, by taking part in the trail, remembering us in your will or signing up to a fundraising challenge. It is the incredible Gloucestershire community that is creating a lasting legacy of care, and for that, we cannot thank you enough."
Over the summer, thousands enjoyed the free Wild in Art sculpture trail - the very first in Gloucestershire. 32 large lions and 54 little lions roared onto the streets with their vibrant colours and stunning designs. Over 200,000 sculptures were unlocked on the official app and over 2,100 miles were prowled across the county.
All the large lions and three little lions went to auction, while the remaining cubs have returned to stay at the schools and community groups who decorated them.
The auction was held at Gloucester Cathedral - who were both a lion sculpture sponsor and had several lions on display over the summer. The Dean of Gloucester, the Very Reverand Andrew Zihni, has worked closely on the campaign as a Big Space Cancer Appeal Board Memeber: “Being able to partner with the charity on Lions at Large has been a wonderful opportunity for us to engage with the wider community. It has been such an inspiring project to be part of, one that truly reflects our values, and all for such an important cause.”
“The county, and beyond, desperately needs a new cancer centre that will transform the experience of those facing this illness. Having somewhere that prioritises not only treatment, but also wellbeing and healing, is incredibly important. The Big Space Cancer Appeal brings those priorities to the forefront and we are proud to be making a difference for the people who need it most."
Bidders came from far and wide with a host of reasons for taking part. Each lion sold for between £2,500 and £30,000 with 20 sculptures achieving £5,000 or more under the hammer.
The village of Twyning successfully came together to bring home The Kintsugi Lion; a striking sculpture by local artist Samantha Morris. Paul Dorkings, who rallied the community, alongside Mark Hartell said: “When we launched the campaign to ‘bring the lion home,’ we hoped our small village might raise enough to make a difference, but what happened on auction night was truly extraordinary. When Twyning reached our limit, we asked the audience to ‘let the underdog win’ so we could bring the lion home as a thank you to Sam for all her incredible work in the community. What happened next was just unbelievable - the audience united in support, with several people pledging gifts of their own to help make it happen.”
“Together, we reached an absolutely incredible total of £15,500! Winning the auction and securing the lion’s return is more than just bringing back a sculpture; it’s bringing home a piece of our community. The Kintsugi Lion will stand as a lasting reminder of what’s possible when people come together with hope, creativity, and compassion. We couldn’t be prouder to give this special piece, and everything it stands for, a forever home.”
To find out more about The Big Space Cancer Appeal, please visit: www.bigspacecancerappeal.co.uk.
📸 (c) Anna Lythgoe Photography
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