Dorman Family Name First Hop to it! Suffolk Hare

St Elizabeth Hospice has revealed ‘Skye’ is the name of the first hare sculpture for its upcoming art trail – Hop to it! Suffolk 2025 – which has been chosen by the Dorman family.

Amelie Dorman, aged 9-years-old, and Noah Dorman, aged four-years-old, submitted a selection of name suggestions – including Gully, Halo, Skye and Sunset – to the hospice, with a poll among hospice staff and volunteers seeing Skye securing the most votes for the hare, designed by artist Loïs Cordelia who has supported previous hospice art trails.

Amelie and Noah’s daddy, James Dorman, received support from the St Elizabeth Hospice before his death aged 37-years-old, in 2022, from cancer.

Following James’ death, Claire Dorman (James’ wife and Amelie and Noah’s mum) has been a keen supporter of St Elizabeth Hospice, fundraising at its annual Midnight Walk and giving speeches about hospice care at the hospice’s Suffolk Remembers event and at the full launch of Hop to it! Suffolk, in April this year.

Claire Dorman, who lives near Woodbridge, said: “We were so touched to be asked to name the first hare for the 2025 trail. The children chose the name Skye due to the sky-like painting on the sculpture.

“I’m so proud of Amelie and Noah, they understand how well the hospice took care of their Daddy and how well they continue to look out for us as a family. They are passionate in their support of the hospice in the same way that I am.

“We feel so lucky to have been a part of the 2025 trail from the beginning. I was more than happy to speak at the launch event, at Christchurch Mansion, as we have such special memories of completing the previous trails in Ipswich with Daddy & our closest friends.

“Amelie and Noah’s favourite was Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk in 2019, where we finished at the town hall and splashed in the fountains!”

Hop to it! Suffolk follows the success of previous hospice art trails – Pigs Gone Wild, Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk and the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022.

Created in partnership with Wild in Art, the art project will see 38 ornately decorated hare sculptures, featuring a range of designs. The trail, will once again, be hosted in Ipswich as well as, for the first time, in neighbouring satellite locations – Beccles, Felixstowe, Lowestoft and Woodbridge – which will each have two large and two small sculptures in their towns.

Celia Joseph, Community & Partnerships Fundraising Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Thank you to Amelie and Noah to providing us with a fantastic selection of names for our hospice team to choose from.

“Skye is the perfect name for our first hare! We cannot wait for the trail to fully start in 2025.

“As ever, we would love to hear from any businesses, local organisations, schools and individuals, who are interested in supporting the trail as a volunteer, through sponsorship or joining our learning and community programme, Hopscotch. Please, visit our website to find out how you can get involved.”

Find out more details about Hop to It! Suffolk 2025 and how you can support the trail by visiting www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/hoptoitsuffolk/.