Now really is your chance to p-p-p-pick up a penguin – for a great cause.
Fans of the feathered friends are preparing to say goodbye to the massively successful Maggie’s Penguin Parade this weekend before all 80 giant sculptures are auctioned for charity at V&A Dundee on Monday evening.
The full-size statues, plus 100 “baby” penguins, will be showcased at a farewell parade in the city’s Slessor Gardens on Saturday and Sunday.
Each penguin had its own design – from Bonnie Dundee to Mr Sofishticated, Penguinstein, and Hell’s Penguin.
The project – which aims to raise at least half a million pounds for Maggie’s Dundee – challenged people to find all 80 penguin sculptures dotted throughout Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife throughout summer.
Artists from across the UK created the beautiful designs covering each of the larger penguins, while local schools and community groups decorated the dinky ones.
Famous faces, including Judy Murray, Simple Minds and Lorraine Kelly, were involved in designing or sponsoring penguins and the trail proved to be fabulous fun, with fans taking selfies alongside the models.
The auction is taking place at 6.30pm on Monday at V&A Dundee.
But don’t worry – you don’t have to be there in person to bid for the unique 5ft pieces of art.
The auctioneers, Inverurie-based ANM Group, stars of BBC One show The Mart, are using I-Bidder, which enables people to bid online from anywhere in the world and live streaming of the auction.
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Annie Long, project manager of Maggie’s Penguin Parade, and fundraising manager for Maggie’s Dundee, said: “We’re so looking forward to the Farewell Weekend to see all our penguin pals together – not just the large figures, but their 100 baby cousins from the schools, too.
“This is the final chance to say goodbye to our fabulous penguins before they are auctioned and waddle off to their forever homes.
“If you missed any of them on the trail, this is a great opportunity to complete your app or sticker book.
“All proceeds go to the Maggie’s Centre at Ninewells Hospital which supports people affected by cancer.
“Maggie’s has provided the free Penguin Parade this summer, so if you have enjoyed it, help support our wonderful local charity.”
The Dundee Maggie’s centre costs £540,000 per year to run and the aim is to reach at least this total at the grand auction.
Colin Slessor of ANM Group said: “We’re delighted and honoured to be taking part in this wonderful charitable auction, held in the newly-opened V&A Dundee.
“We’ve seen great interest in this event from across Scotland and beyond, and with the addition of online bidding, we are hoping to see a fantastic fundraising result for the Dundee Maggie’s Centre.
“We took part in Aberdeen’s Wild Dolphin auction in 2014 and the highly successful Oor Wullie auction in 2016, and we can’t wait to return to Dundee to help facilitate the sale of the penguins.”
All proceeds from the ticket-only Farewell Parade, which runs from 10am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday, will also go to Maggie’s. Tickets for the weekend’s Farewell Parade are available from Dundee Box Office, by phone, online or in person on the day.
While the Penguin Parade has been fabulous fun, there’s a serious message behind the merriment. It has introduced, in a non-threatening and engaging way, a conversation about cancer to Tayside and Fife.
