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Stagecoach can’t hide their Excitement at Launch of ‘Hiding Lions’ Snowdog!

ByEmily

Oct 8, 2016

Staff at a local bus operator have gone canine crazy as the company’s snowdog was officially unveiled at its home at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

Beautifully illustrated and painted by Northumberland-based artist Helen Stephens, Hiding Lions is the snowdog sponsored by Stagecoach North East and the staff are already looking forward to ‘pawsome’ days out with family and friends as they hit the snowdog art trail.

Great North Snowdog is a Wild in Art event in support of St Oswald’s Hospice. Inspired by the animated short film, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog, the large-scale public art event will feature over 60 large Snowdogs and 105 smaller dog characters across the Tyne and Wear, and aims to capture the hearts and minds of the region and beyond in the run up to Christmas 2016.

Receptionist Kim Butler, who is based at the bus company’s head office in Sunderland, has already started the trail, as her six-year-old grandson was so excited to see the snowdogs after they were revealed to the public.

The 53-year-old from Town End Farm in Sunderland took grandson Oliver out on the snowdog trail as an adventure after school and had great fun. Kim said: “After downloading the app and the snowdog map, we are now trying to get round as many snowdogs as possible, and we started with our very own Hiding Lions first, followed by Wonderhound and SAFC Spraydog at the Stadium of Light. Oliver was so looking forward to it and loved looking for the lions to see how many he could find!”

Stagecoach North East partnered with Helen Stephens, the popular picture book writer and illustrator behind the hugely successful series of children’s books, ‘How to Hide a Lion’. The artist took theme of her new picture book, ‘How to Hide a Lion at School’, and has hidden lions all over the snowdog for people to find.

Oliver Steinberg, a pupil at Bexhill Academy in Town End Farm, said: “I liked looking for the lions on the big snowdog and I found all ten! He is cute and I liked looking at all the pictures. ”

Steve Walker, managing director, Stagecoach North East, said: “After months of preparation and anticipation, it is fantastic to see our snowdog unveiled and settled into his home for the next two months. Staff across our six depots are keen to pay him a visit and see as many snowdogs as possible, making a day of it and enjoying the best the region has to offer.

“We are proud to support such an initiative, which engages the whole family, encourages people in the north east to explore their local community and attracts new visitors to the region – and crucially – helps to raise money for St Oswald’s Hospice.”

For more information on Hiding Lions, please visit www.stagecoachbus.com/great-north-snowdogs

For further information about Stagecoach North East please visit www.stagecoachbus.com

By Emily