More than 40 lifesize Cow sculptures will milk the opportunity to take part in a fundraising farewell at Herd HQ in The Grafton on 17-19 September 2021.
Registration is now open for the Cows about Cambridge ‘Farewell Weekend’, which will be a moovellous opportunity to see the entire herd of large Cows in one place. Each sculpture has been individually decorated by a regional or national artist, with striking designs including everything from multi-coloured wellington boots (Beef Wellington) to Hollywood glamour (At the Moovies) to the botanical elements used in gin distillation (MOOOre Gin Please).
Guarantee your time of entry to the Farewell Weekend by booking via cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk, or simply drop in on the day. Entry to the event will be free, with a suggested donation of £2.50 per person.
All proceeds from this udderly unique farewell will be gifted to Break, a charity working with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Break believes that whatever a child’s start in life, with the right support there is no limit to what they can achieve. In Cambridge, their leaving care project - Stay Close, Stay Connected – gives vital support, stability and a home to vulnerable young people, to ensure they have the best possible transition to adulthood.
“The reaction to sculpture trail has been phenomenal, and it has been really amazing to see so many people taking part in the trail and learning about the services Break offers to young people in the area,” said Sarah Bunn, Break’s Community Fundraising Manager.
“The cows will shortly be waving goodbye to the streets of Cambridge, but there’s still more in store. If you haven’t yet had a chance to walk the trail, why not think about taking on our Mooon Walk on the weekend of 27, 28 and 29 August. Register on Break’s website to receive a goody bag and all the information you need to take part.”
Lasting for ten weeks across the summer months, the spectacular Cows about Cambridge art trail is currently creating a feel-good factor in Cambridge city centre, charming thousands of local people and visitors alike. A total of 90 Cow sculptures - including 46 mini moos designed by schools, colleges and community groups – can be found grazing in green spaces, shopping centres and other locations. The trail has been created by event producers Wild in Art in association with principal partner Cambridge BID, official travel partner Thameslink and Break.
“Public art helps to bring communities together, and communities look after one another,” commented Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Wild in Art. “That’s why it’s important to us that we partner with a local charity who can benefit directly from fund-raising linked to our trail.
“One of our Cows, the Monty Python-inspired Now for Something Udderly Different, includes ‘tap to donate’ technology that makes it really easy for trail-goers to give a donation to Break, if they would like to.
“Two other Cows, Penny and Moodle Yoodle, are generously sponsored by Hoares Bank and Cambridge Assessment who have both offered to donate £1 for every time their sculpture is unlocked by trail-goers using the Cows about Cambridge app.
“We also have a text-to-donate feature that enables anyone to donate £3 from their armchair, simply by texting COWS to 70085.”
And it doesn’t end there. Finally, in a glittering auction to be held at the Graduate Cambridge hotel on 23 September, all of the large Cows will be sold to raise thousands of pounds in additional funds for Break.
For more information about the Farewell Weekend, Auction and other fundraising events, visit cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk.
CASE STUDY SUPPLIED BY BREAK:
Break’s work across Cambridgeshire provides lifelong support, stability and homes to young people leaving care. Edita has just moved out of her Break home and now has her own tenancy and a bright future:
“I was 14 when I moved into a care home. My parents were doing drugs and weren’t looking after me or my seven-year-old little sister. It turned out to be the best two and a half years of my life.
“When it came to moving on from the home I knew I didn’t want to be in a big hostel - I need my space and I was already really independent. I was really worried about getting in with the wrong crowd. Break came to the home and told me about Staying Close Staying Connected. In a way it seemed too good to be true. I’d live with just one other person, and I’d have a Transition Worker to support me through.
“Now I’m in my own place. I’m so happy that I’ve moved here and that Break are still here to support me. When I don’t understand how to do something, even things like reading an electric meter, I can call for support. They’ve helped me decorate and helped get me back on the path I want to be on when things have been wobbly. Now I’m hoping to pass my driving test so I can work in a children’s care home. I’ve been inspired by my past – I’ve heard so many young people shouting at staff saying ‘you don’t understand what I’m going through’ but if I ever get anything like that I can point and say ‘That used to be my bedroom’.”
MORE FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY BY PRIMARK:
Marcus and Kevin from Primark smashed their £200 fundraising target in a charity walk for Break that saw them cover 12.5 miles to collect 89 Cows in a single day.
