Great North Elmer Parade Helped Us Keep Fit

As a new mum over 40, one of my priorities is to keep fit and healthy. So joining in the fun of this year’s St Oswald’s Hospice Great North Elmer Parade was just the tonic. A brisk walk always helps to blow away the cobwebs and clear my head. It also keeps little legs motivated and moving too. After all, if you’ve only got little legs, you’ve got to make every step count while taking in your favourite elephants.

Great Outdoors

The Great North Elmer parade across the North East offered up an all-round great adventure for our little family. It has to be one of the best free family days out we’ve had this year. The adventure trail, which came to a close earlier this month, was based on David McKee’s popular story of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. It consisted of around 50 large sculptures and some smaller ones at easy-to-reach locations.

I love the Elmer stories because I’ve grown up with them and they are brilliant for teaching little ones all about diversity in a fun and engaging way. Before setting off, we downloaded the Elmer trail app and purchased a map for £1 from Newcastle Central Library. We also bought an Elmer storybook so little legs could read to the elephants we met.

Elmer Treats

The app was great because it allowed little fingers to unlock each of the elephants with ease. The squeals of delight as he realised there were treats behind some of the Elmers was lovely. Some of the best treats included pencils and a colour-in Elmer from Greggs, a bag of jelly beans from Leazes Financial Services in Eldon Gardens. There was also a badge courtesy of the artist behind the Barker & Stonehouse Elmer to collect.

It was the little treats that kept little C engaged as we made our way around the trail. What was really magic was the number of families we met who were also out Elmer-spotting for the day. So after ticking off 25 Elmers in a day, which were little legs’ top three?

Greggs’ HAPI Elmer

The first was Greggs’ HAPI Elmer in Northumberland Street, Newcastle. HAPI stands for Having A Positive Impact and that’s something we should all strive to do. The colourful elephant, designed and decorated by North East artist Steve Johnson, must have made little legs hungry, so we stopped off for a quick chocolate star from our favourite bakery.

Barker & Stonehouse Nice To Be Nice Elmer

Little C’s second favourite was Barker & Stonehouse Elmer, Nice To Be Nice, located outside of the store in Newcastle city centre. We both loved the ‘I Believe In You’ message displayed on this colourful Elmer designed and decorated by Yorkshire illustrator Sian Ellis. Compliments go such a long way to making us all feel good.

Newcastle Building Society’s Tynie Elmer

Little C’s final favourite Elmer was Tynie, sponsored by Newcastle Building Society and decorated by Liverpool artist Anne-Marie Byrne. He spent quite a while reading Elmer to Elmer! Tynie was one of the trail’s eco-friendly elephants and celebrated the spirit of the mighty River Tyne.

Important Cause

By taking part in the trail, little legs and I were also doing our bit to raise money and awareness of St Oswald’s Hospice, which provides care, love and support to those with life-shortening conditions across the region. Yesterday we celebrated our time on the trail by waving goodbye to the herd at Elmer’s Farewell Weekend at Newcastle Racecourse.

Little legs gave a kiss to all of the elephants in the room and he also got to meet the ones we hadn’t been able to visit. It was the perfect end to a perfect trail and we were so lucky to have been able to take part in it for such a good cause.

Charity Auction

It’s not over yet though as the Big Elmer Charity Auction takes place on Tuesday, November 12th at Sage Gateshead and gives people the chance to buy an Elmer and raise funds for the hospice at the same time. Tickets are on sale at www.sagegateshead.com/elmer-auction

If you buy an Elmer at the event, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with us at saffronandcyrus@gmail.com For a chance to see all the Elmers we visited on the Great North Elmer parade, check out our Instagram channel @ofsaffronandcyrus for more pictures and videos.