Hip Hip Hooray to hippo Fiona
A renowned artist helped to mark the birthday of the world’s most famous hippo in aid of dyslexia.
Monday, January 24 was the fifth birthday of Cincinnati Zoo’s star resident Fiona the Hippo, who defied the odds after she was born six months premature, weighing just 29 pounds.
Sculptor Mark Stoddart, 57, from Turnberry, gave away his ‘Hostage Hippo’ coffee table to one lucky attendee at Fiona’s virtual birthday party with proceeds aiding a dyslexia school in Kenya.
In collaboration with Cincinnati Zoo, Mark offered the chance for someone to win his ‘Hostage Hippo’ coffee table along with an original kiss painting of Fiona, who celebrated her fifth birthday on Monday. For a $5 birthday gift, anyone could attend her virtual birthday party and receive entry into a draw to become the proud new owner of the famous bronze sculpted glasstopped table.
All proceeds supported the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Rare Gem Talent School in Kenya; an organisation for children with
dyslexia and neurodiversity issues based in Fiona’s native land and close to Mark’s heart.
Mark has lived with dyslexia his whole life and credits his artistic success to the confidence he gained after attending Frewen College in Sussex, a school that specially catered for people with dyslexia. He said his education at the college taught him that he didn’t need to be held back by the condition.
Mark is also a proud supporter of Dyslexia Scotland and is keen to support Rare Gem Talent School and give the same sense of hope and belief to children in Fiona’s home country of Kenya.
Mark said: “My whole life I’ve been grateful for the support I received as a youngster and the success I have enjoyed as an artist in my adult years.
“With the help of Cincinnati Zoo and the adorable Fiona, I am excited by the opportunity to give a similar boost to the children at Rare Gem, and hopefully see the success it inspires in them in the years to come. And 100 per cent goes to charity. A percentage of the funds raised goes to Kenya Dyslexia Organisation to help them realise their dream to build the only dyslexic school in Kenya.They’re building a new bigger school to replace the tin rented building they are in at the moment.”
A whopping $63,000 has been raised so far.
Mark added: “We are working hard and hoping to raise more awareness of neurodiversity and dyslexia issues.”
Mark’s limited edition hippo coffee table made headlines in 2014 when it was held hostage by a hotel in Troon.
He had loaned the coffee table to the hotel nine years before, but when the hotel fell into financial difficulty and was listed for sale, Mark requested the table back in order to avoid it being passed on as ‘fixtures and fittings’.
But the hotel flatly refused - and Mark was left with no choice but to launch a campaign for the safe return of his work.
The Post took on the case and eventually the table was returned.