Elephant to be inscribed with names of loved ones

The Remember Me elephant is part of LOROS Hospice's Stomp Round Leicester art trail

An elephant model which forms part of a charity trail through Leicester will be inscribed with the names of lost loved ones, the hospice behind the initiative has said.

Artist Anna Shutt designed the Remember Me elephant as part of LOROS Hospice's Stomp Round Leicester art trail, which comprises 40 elephants and runs until 21 September.

The sculpture outside the This + That LOROS charity shop in High Street is covered with photo frames which will be inscribed in return for a donation.

Ms Shutt said: "Remember Me is a wonderful canvas to inscribe the name of someone special to you."

She added: "As names are added, the artwork becomes a beautiful commemoration to all the special people we miss."

'Lovely tribute'

LOROS worked with Wild in Art to create the trail for its 40th anniversary.

At the end of the 10-week trail, the 40 elephant sculptures will be auctioned, with proceeds going to the hospice.

Andrew Ward, events lead at LOROS, said: "Elephants never forget, and neither do we.

"Everyone at a hospice knows how important happy memories are, providing comfort in recollections after they have gone.

"We hope Remember Me is a lovely tribute to those we hold dearly."

LOROS recently announced that due to a funding shortfall it would be cutting inpatient ward beds, day therapy and other services for patients and families.

The hospice added the decision came after a "perfect storm" of increased running costs, a reduction of income and a rise in demand from an ageing population.

But it said it hoped the changes would "secure its long-term future".