Oor Wullie was the centre of attention in his home city as the first ever national bucket trail starring the cheeky comic book character was launched in Dundee.
A total of 150 Oor Wullie sculptures will take to the streets of not only the City of Discovery, but also Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow, next summer.
The Oor Wullie Big Bucket Trail will raise money for the ARCHIE Foundation, as well as Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Thursday evening’s launch, at DC Thomson’s Meadowside building, follows the success of the original trail held in Dundee in 2016, which raised more than £883,000.
Friends and supporters of the ARCHIE Foundation, artists and representatives from local businesses attended the celebration.
David Wood, chief executive of the ARCHIE Foundation, said: “The people of Dundee really took the first Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail to their hearts back in 2016, and we know they’ll do the same when the new Oor Wullies are on the streets next summer.
“We would encourage any local businesses or organisations to get in touch if they’d like to sponsor one of the statues, and we’ll be looking for local artists soon too to submit their ideas for how we can design Oor Wullie in the most fun and creative ways.
“Most of all we’re looking forward to getting schools and communities involved in the trail because children and families are at the heart of the project, with all the money raised in Dundee being spent in Dundee to help local sick children.”
In Dundee, 30 statues will be on display at various locations from June to September, before being auctioned off to raise money for the ARCHIE Foundation – the official charity of Tayside Children’s Hospital.
The trail will aim to unite the country as it raises awareness for Scottish children’s hospital charities, which work in partnership with the NHS to provide care for a combined half a million babies, children and young people each year.
There will also be an opportunity for youngsters to play a part in the event, with every school in Scotland in line to receive a Wee Oor Wullie sculpture of its own for pupils to decorate.
The trail is a Wild in Art event and is supported by DC Thomson Media.
