Schoolkids challenged to design Beatson Cancer Charity’s Official Mascot!

One of Scotland’s leading cancer charities is inviting schoolchildren to design a mascot which will help drive new fundraising initiatives across the country.

Beatson Cancer Charity is inviting pupils to get creative and take part in a competition to create and name the very first Beatson Cancer Charity Mascot which will be turned into a life-sized version.

 Amy Dreszler, Fundraiser, at Beatson Cancer Charity said: “Beatson Cancer Charity is going to create an official mascot and what better way to bring it to life than inviting some of our younger supporters to take part.

“Whether it’s an animal or character, anything really, we’re calling on pupils from Glasgow City, North and South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and East and West Dunbartonshire to create a fun, friendly and easily recognisable creature to be the charity’s official mascot.

“We have such a dedicated supporter base and this is our way of saying a huge thank you for the generosity we receive by making our mascot a representative of the community, designed by our future generation.”

Kids from primary 4-7 are encouraged to get their creative juices flowing and have until 30 March 2016 to submit their entries. These will be judged by a panel of Beatson Cancer Charity staff, supporters and ambassadors including The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sadie Docherty. The winning entry will be unveiled at the charity’s flagship sponsored walking event ‘Off The Beatson Track’ on Sunday 28^th August.

Amy continues: “If you look at the way in which other mascots like Partick Thistle’s Kingsley and Glasgow Warrior’s Clyde have helped drive interest levels at home and abroad - we’re looking for a new mascot to help boost Beatson Cancer Charity’s profile and engage with local communities.

“Cancer is something that affects so many families across the country, it’s important to us at The Beatson to help children understand the issue in a positive way. We invite the schools to really make a day of it and ask their pupils to ‘Wear It Yellow’ for Beatson Cancer Charity as they design their mascots. Whether it is wearing yellow onesies, applying yellow face paint or baking yummy yellow treats, there are lots of brilliant ways schools can get involved and raise awareness of a cause that’s so close to us all. “We encourage as many schools as possible to take part; it’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone with a unique, creative flair to show us what they’ve got. We’re looking forward to receiving some fantastic entries – I’m sure our panel will have a tough decision ahead of them.”

Douglas McCrea, Managing Director, said:  "We are delighted to be supporting a charity that goes the extra mile for people who are suffering from cancer. Having spent time visiting friends and family who were being treated at The Beatson I have seen first-hand the wonderful work they do and we will be looking to raise as much as we can in 2016 to help their efforts. We also hope our links with two great Glasgow clubs (and their mascots) provides some great inspiration for competition entries for a new Beatson Mascot!”

The competition was launched at St Mark’s Primary School in Barrhead where pupils are already excited to enter the competition and were thrilled to meet much-loved mascots Kingsley and Clyde.

 If you would like more information on Beatson Cancer Charity’s exclusive mascot competition, please email amy.dreszler@beatsoncancercharity.orgor call 0141 212 0505 and to see more about the support McCrea Financial Services offer you can click here