Hare today, gone tomorrow - families say goodbye to GoGoHares

A competition in this newspaper enabled families to view the hugely popular sculptures outside the Forum in Norwich on Wednesday.

It was the last time people could see all 70 GoGoHares - including two which were not on the trails - in one place before 50 are sold at auction on Thursday, October 11.

Proceeds from the sale of the sculptures will go towards the Norfolk children's charity Break, which organised the GoGoHare trail.

Yesterday's private viewing included Pablo the circus-themed hare, which can be won by purchasing a £10 raffle ticket, and the Joules Hare, which is the prize for the county trail winner.

Layla Scott, four, and her brother Dexter, two, attempt a selfie with Hare LeQuin at the GoGoHares farewell event 'Hare Today Gone Tomorrow'. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Natasha Ventham and her daughter Phoebe, aged five, were one of 60 families who attended the farewell event.

She said: 'The kids have been engrossed by it all, and Phoebe knows all of their names and locations.

'We have done all of the city trail and most of the county trail, so we came here to say a final goodbye because she [Phoebe] will be quite sad.'

Julia Scott, who was visiting with her grandchildren Layla Scott, 4, and Dexter Scott, 2, said: 'Layla was very excited to come in here, she wanted photos taken with all of then.

Fans of the hares come to see them together at the GoGoHares farewell event Hare Today Gone Tomorrow before the auction. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

'We didn't get round to seeing all of the hares, so we were excited to win tickets.'

Helen Vinsen, from Break, said there had been an 'amazing' turnout to the farewell event.

She added: 'It has been a steady flow of excited people of all ages who will all be sad to see the hares leave.'

Fifty of the city hares will be sold at auction at the Forum on Thursday. TW Gaze will be running the event, while Mike Sarson and Elizabeth Talbot will be auctioning off the 50 lots.

Stephanie Barnard has a final close look at one of the hares at the GoGoHares farewell event Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Tickets to the auction are still available, but people can also make bids online, via telephone or through proxy bidding.

Proceeds from the event will help fund work carried out by Break's Moving on Team, which supports vulnerable young people to live independently after leaving the care system.

• For more information about the auction, or for links on how to bid, visit www.break-charity.org/support-us/events/ggh-auction

Sophie Robinson, nine, hugs one of the hares at the GoGoHares farewell event Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Rachel Marjoram has her picture taken with her favourite hare, George the Watchmaker, at the GoGoHares farewell event Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)