Suffolk singer Ed Sheeran has given his backing to a design submitted for the Pigs Gone Wild challenge - one that looks just like him.
More than 100 designs were submitted by artists from both here in Suffolk and further afield for the giant pigs, which will be located throughout the town between June and September this year.
Last week St Elizabeth Hospice invited those sponsors to a match-maker event so they could look through the colourful designs and choose one for their pig.
Among them was the Ed Sheeran design, which has now been snapped up by a Suffolk business.
Norman Lloyd, Pigs Gone Wild project manager, said: “We had a fantastic range of designs submitted by artists from around the country for the pig sculptures, but I think with Ed’s local connection, being a Framlingham boy, an Ed pig was a must have.”
This isn’t the first time Ed Sheeran has supported the hospice. In the past he has donated items from his wardrobe to his local St Elizabeth Hospice shop in Framlingham, and the clothing has raised thousands of pounds for the charity.
Mr Lloyd added: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Ed for his support of the project, and the design, and his continued support of the hospice. We’re sure that ‘Ed heer Ham’ will not only prove an extremely popular pig on the trail, but that it will go on to raise thousands for the hospice when it goes to auction.”
More than half of the pigs have now been ‘sold’ but there is still an opportunity for businesses to get on board with what will be Suffolk’s largest ever mass participation art scheme.
During the trail, run by the hospice and Wild in Art, families will be able to use a printed map, or download the mobile app, to locate more than 40 pigs around Ipswich, each one linked to a business.
There will also be exciting events planned during the project by various sponsors and the hospice itself.
The trail will help bring tourists to Ipswich, encourage local residents to get out and see more of the town and also improve your fitness, whilst raising thousands of pounds for the hospice.
At the end of the project, the pigs will be auctioned off for the charity.
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