Penguins to hit the trail across Tayside and Fife

Parade in aid of Maggie’s to go beyond Dundee

Maggie’s Penguin Parade – the summer trail in Dundee which aims to raise enough money to fund the Dundee cancer care centre for a year – is spreading its wings into Angus, Perth and Fife.

While 65 of the individually designed giant penguins will invade the streets of Dundee to form a free public art trail, 15 will travel further afield to create a series of mini trails.

Towns lucky enough to welcome the waddling wanderers are Brechin, Kirriemuir, Carnoustie, Perth and St Andrews.

It is thanks to sponsors of the giant seabird sculptures that the venture deeper into Courier Country has been made possible.

Helen Stott of Kirriemuir-based Delson Contracts, where there will be two penguins, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring a Maggie’s penguin, bringing the trail to Kirriemuir.

“The penguins will bring a huge increase in footfall to the town and help support the small, local businesses.”

There will be a trail of four penguins in Perth.

Civil engineering company I&H Brown are an official penguin sponsor.

Duncan Brown, business development manager, said: “As a business, we look to support local charities so when the opportunity arose to support the Maggie’s Centre we were delighted to get involved.

“We’ve had fun choosing our artist and their design and we are looking forward to the penguins going on display this summer across Tayside.”

Annie Long, fundraising manager at Maggie’s, said: “With the services our centre gives being available to everyone affected by cancer in the Dundee, Perth, Angus and north Fife areas, we thought it was a perfect way to spread the word about Maggie’s Dundee and raise vital funds for the centre.

“We are really excited about our five most northerly penguins and those in Perth, St Andrews and Carnoustie.”

Maggie’s provides free practical, social and emotional support to people affected by cancer. There are 20 centres throughout the UK including Dundee, Fife and Edinburgh.

Maggie’s Dundee costs £540,000 per year to run and the aim of Maggie’s Penguin Parade is to raise enough to fund the centre for a year.

The penguin locations will be revealed on a foldable map and app once the trail goes live on June 29.

We are really excited about our five most northerly penguins ... ANNIE LONG, FUNDRAISING MANAGER AT MAGGIE’S

Picture: Kim Cessford. On parade: Moaz Sheak and Jeromy Wei of Our Lady’s RC Primary School, Dundee, alongside two of the penguins.