Larking Gowen join the early bird herd

East Anglian Daily Times: Elmer the elephant gets a hug from campaign manager Norman Lloyd. Picture: GREGG BROWNElmer the elephant gets a hug from campaign manager Norman Lloyd. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Chartered accountants Larking Gowen have joined Elmer’s Big Parade next year.

The trail of 50 large and 100 small Elmers is intended to raise vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice and arrives in Ipswich in 2019.

Larking Gowen will sponsor an adult Elmer and have joined the Early Bird Herd in a bid to raise an additional £3500 by January 2019.

Following the huge success of the Pigs Gone Wild art trail in 2016 where Larking Gowen co-sponsored Elvis Porksley, the regional firm were keen to sponsor their own animal sculpture this time around.

Larking Gowen partner Becky Ames said: “The St Elizabeth Hospice is dear to many of our hearts at Larking Gowen as we have been affected personally with family members dealing with terminal illness and many of us have received amazing support during those difficult times from the hospice. We are delighted to be joining the Big Parade, it brings us closer to our local community, provides excellent team working opportunities while at the same time raising funds for this amazing charity”.

Becky went on to say that the staff at Larking Gowen were working on lots of different ideas in order to raise money including a virtual cycling tour of all four Elmer Big Parades, which are taking place in 2019 totalling some 900+ miles.

In 2019 the UK will play host to four Elmer Big Parade’s in order to celebrate Elmer’s 30th birthday, in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art and Andersen Press. The parades will, take place in Plymouth, Newcastle, Isle of Man as well as Ipswich.

The Ipswich trail will be the longest of the four trails, lasting a total of 12 weeks and will run from June to September.

It happens to coincide with St Elizabeth’s 30th birthday.

To launch the fundraising the Larking Gowen team will join forces and take to the roads during the organised St Elizabeth Hospice Midnight Walk in May. The Midnight Walk will start at Trinity Park and will see 100s of walkers taking on either a 6 or 12 mile midnight challenge.

To find out more or support the Larking Gowen fundraising efforts go to:

https://www.justgiving.com/LarkingGowenElmer.