Oor charity champion: Wullie’s top spot in Impact 100 2016 hailed

Courier Impact 100: Foundation delighted as Dundee icon tops local poll

The ARCHIE Foundation’s Bucket Trail campaigners are celebrating a further triumph after Oor Wullie clinched The Courier’s 2016 Impact 100 list.

The Scottish icon tops the table at No 1 in our countdown of those who have made the biggest impression in the past 12 months.

The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail injected a huge sense of fun into the summer while raising funds for the Archie Foundation.

To top it off, Oor Wullie made it on to the front of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s 2016 official Christmas card.

Artists, communities and businesses across Tayside chipped in with ideas for themes for 70 sculptures of the popular DC Thomson cartoon character, which were each given a unique design and identity.

Designs included High School Wullie, Little Hands Wullie, Oor Golfer, Rugby Wullie and Oor Artefacts.

The sculptures were displayed around the city – and some went on tour – prior to being auctioned in September, raising more than £883,000 for the ARCHIE Foundation.

Cassie Thompson, director of fundraising for the foundation, said Oor Wullie taking the top Impact 100 spot was “amazing news”.

“This is a lovely, heartwarming finish to a fantastic year,” she said. “We’re proud and delighted to be No 1!

“The drive and passion behind the trail was all to help us raise £2 million for the Archie Foundation Tayside’s Appeal to build a new twin operating paediatric theatre suite.

“Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supports the charity as we could not do this without you.”

Artist Suzanne Scott, of Whimsical Lush, the project coordinator of the Bucket Trail, said: “What an honour – Oor Wullie taking the number one spot in Impact 100 is incredible.

“It really shows how much people love the cheeky chap and his Bucket Trail. People went wild for it all summer. What was really lovely was watching people of all nationalities and generations enjoy the experience together.

“Our tiny Bucket Trail team worked hard to bring the trail to life, culminating in a huge goodbye event at Slessor Gardens before the 70 sculptures went to auction in September.”

When the final figure of £883,000 raised was announced, the emotion was “overwhelming”.

Andy Lothian, chief executive of Insights, the Dundee company which sponsored one of the statues, said it was an “absolute privilege” to be involved in the project.

Mr Lothian, who bought two of the statues, said: “Oor Wullie is a Scottish icon, who this year was a catalyst to galvanise the people of Courier Country.

“He represents what is possible when we all align around a common cause.”

Picture: Kris Miller. The Bucket Trail was a phenomenon.