St Elizabeth Hospice staff have created a mini pig trail at the day centre on Foxhall Road, Ipswich, for patients.
For many patients at the hospice, getting into town to follow the big Pigs Gone Wild trail isn’t possible, so instead, the pigs have been brought to them.
Dozens of little pigs have been lovingly handmade and knitted by the hospice’s Made With Love volunteers.
Sara Nicholl, retail events co-ordinator at the hospice, set up the Made With Love shop and range, and works with patients, volunteers and supporters to upcycle donations and handmake them into items for resale in aid of the hospice.
Her team of more than 100 volunteers got to work making knitted and crocheted pigs who now call the 26-year-old hospice home.
The pigs have been scattered everywhere throughout the centre: On top of tables, chairs, windows and doors.
Kate Barber, one of the dedicated day care sisters at the hospice, was pleased the patients were able personalise the pigs.
“Patients got involved by naming the pigs on the trail and creating life stories for them, which are written on labels attached to the pigs,” she said.
The humour of patients shines through as one label reads ‘I want to be the best bacon!’
The woolly creatures are also for sale in the Made With Love shop which is in the day centre lobby at the hospice – and the pigs are flying off the shelves!
And they are not stopping here; the pigs are travelling the world.
The hospice’s marketing assistant Sophie Johnson said: “Staff, patients and volunteers who have bought some of the knitted pigs have also been encouraged to take them away on their holidays, or if a loved one is going away, and to get photos of them on their travels, with some going to Latitude and to Germany, so they really are going wild.”
If you’re crafty and would like to be involved with the Made With Love group, please contact Sarah Nicholl on sarah.nicholl@stelizabethhospice.org.uk