The creators of Hull’s beloved public art trails have officially brought their remarkable run of community projects to a close - presenting a donation of £160,000 to the Daisy Appeal, raised through the A Mischief of Rats sculpture trail that captured hearts across Hull and the East Riding earlier this year.
The cheque was handed over at The Jack Brignall Centre at Castle Hill Hospital by project co-directors Rick Welton and Clare Huby, marking both a major contribution to the Daisy Appeal’s £3 million target to fund a new digital PET-CT scanner - and the team’s final creative venture together.
Rick and Clare, who also produced the unforgettable Larkin Toads, A Moth for Amy, and Puffins Galore!, described bringing the curtain down on their series of major community art projects as “bittersweet.”
Rick Welton, Co-Director of A Mischief of RatsWe’ve been privileged to see how these trails have brought colour, conversation and community spirit to our region. Knowing that A Mischief of Rats, which celebrated the life of Hull’s Mick Ronson, has raised such a phenomenal amount for the Daisy Appeal makes this the perfect note to end on. It’s been a joy to work with so many artists, sponsors and volunteers over the years - this donation belongs to everyone who joined the fun.
Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Daisy Appeal, Professor Nick Stafford, Chair of the charity, said:
This donation of £160,000 takes us a huge step closer to our £3 million target for a new scanner at Castle Hill Hospital, improving diagnosis and treatment for patients across East Yorkshire. But beyond the money, A Mischief of Rats has been an outstanding awareness-raising campaign. The excitement and engagement it has generated have introduced thousands more people to the work of the Daisy Appeal, and we are deeply grateful to Rick, Clare and the whole team behind the project.
Clare Huby, Co-Director of the Project added:
From the toads and moths to the puffins, and now the rats, each project has celebrated local creativity while supporting wonderful causes. The public response to A Mischief of Rats has been overwhelming – the enthusiasm, engagement and generosity from people across Hull and the East Riding have been incredible. It’s fantastic to see not only the funds raised for the Daisy Appeal, but also the awareness the project has generated for their vital work. It feels right that we end on such a positive high, helping move the Daisy Appeal closer to its £3m target.
The Daisy Appeal funds cutting-edge medical research and equipment to aid the early and accurate diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, heart disease and dementia for people across Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
This modular digital upgrade will nearly double annual scan capacity and enable screening for conditions such as lung cancer, repeated scans for individual patients, and safer imaging for children and potentially pregnant women - reducing both radiation exposure and scan times.
100% of the donations received go to fund vital lifesaving research and provision of medical scanning facilities.
Please note all funds are used in full by the charity to further its objectives.
The Hull and East Yorkshire Medical Research Centre
A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales. Company No. 4017833
Registered office: Daisy Building, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham HU16 5JQ Registered Charity No. 1095652
