PEOPLE enjoying the Big Hare Trail in North Berwick can take part in a brand-new challenge – and will soon have the chance, at a charity auction, to take one of the sculptures home!

All of the money raised through the trail and auction will go to Leuchie House to allow it to continue its work in providing respite for people with the long-term effects of neurological conditions, as well as their carers.

The trail, launched in July, has been a huge hit with residents and visitors alike.

Thousands of people have taken on the five-kilometre trail and visited the 10 six-foot-tall hare sculptures that have been placed in various locations in and around town.

All have been painted with a unique design by an artist and sponsored by a local business.

With the trail due to end in a few weeks, Leuchie House has launched a new challenge that it has called the Hare and Tortoise 5k.

Participants are asked to go round the trail wearing fancy dress – particularly bunny ears – and take a picture with each hare, gathering sponsorship money as they go.

There are prizes for the best fancy dress, best family photo, best selfie and top fundraiser.

Kirsty Campbell, community and events fundraiser at Leuchie House, located just south of North Berwick, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to re-connect their teams in a really fun way whilst fundraising for Leuchie House.”

Trail fans can see all the hares in one place at ‘The Big Hare Hurrah’ on September 26 at the Marine Hotel, North Berwick. Each hare will then be auctioned off on October 1. May Matthews, head of pictures in Scotland at Bonhams, will act as the auctioneer.

She said: “Bonhams are delighted to support this event.

“As an East Lothian resident myself, I know the fantastic work that Leuchie House do.

“This event will help Leuchie meet a critical need for respite, now greater than ever in the aftermath of the pandemic, and I am thrilled to be part of it.”

Bids are expected to start at about £3,000.

Stephen Pearson, chair of Leuchie House, said: “The Big Hare Trail has been a fantastic way to celebrate Leuchie’s 10th anniversary together with the community.

“We have really enjoyed seeing the positive impact of the trail by attracting visitors back to our High Street, bringing smiles to people’s faces and brightening up our town with these fabulous works of art.

“It will be great to see who is going to bid on the night and take these unique pieces of art back to their homes, workplaces and local communities.”

And he added: “If you do decide to take the plunge at the auction, not only will you end up with a fantastic work of art, you will also be supporting the work of Leuchie House, as proceeds raised through the auction will help support families from all over Scotland living with a neurological condition to benefit from much-needed respite and other support services.”

Last week, 26-year-old Abbie Herriot, of North Berwick, told the Courier all about her puffin-inspired hare (pictured left), situated outside the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Abbie’s mum, Kirsty Herriot, is hoping to rally a team together to bid for her daughter’s creation.

She said: “If we do miraculously manage to win it, we would love for it to go somewhere in North Berwick where lots of people can still see it, us included.”

Those interested in attending and bidding at the auction can register for tickets at thebigharetrail.co.uk/grand-auction