WATCH: Oor Dreamcatcher moves into his new home at Ninewells

There is a familiar face waiting to welcome patients, visitors and staff at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee from this morning.

Published 27th Sep 2016

There is a familiar face waiting to welcome patients, visitors and staff at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee from this morning.

After a successful £12,000 bid from NHS Tayside staff, Oor Dreamcatcher has been taken to his new home in the hospital.

Lizzie Parker has this report:

The Oor Dreamcatcher Wullie statue is settling in to temporary surroundings on the concourse before moving to his permanent home following a huge fundraising campaign to have one of the Bucket Trail statues at the NHS Tayside facility.

Dr Simon Crawley, who was the driving force behind the staff fundraising campaign, said: “The response from NHS Tayside staff and members of the public to the fundraising campaign was absolutely overwhelming.

“I was delighted that, with the additional generous donation from Gordon Deuchers of GA Engineering, I was able to win Dreamcatcher at the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail auction ensuring that it would this Oor Wullie that would be making his home at Ninewells.”

The health board’s chairman John Connell said: “The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail fundraising event proved to be an amazingly successful event this summer and I am delighted that Oor Dreamcatcher Wullie is now making his permanent home here amongst us at Ninewells.

“The campaign to secure our ‘ane’ Oor Wullie for the Tayside Children’s Hospital captured the hearts and minds of not only our staff who supported this fundraising campaign but also encouraged members of the public to dig deep and donate.

“It is fitting that Dreamcatcher, which was created with the help of children and symbolises the some of their dreams will help bring a smile to the faces of children and their families who attend the Children’s Hospital in the future.”

Artist Suzanne Scott designed Dreamcatcher – she was also the artist co-ordinator for Oor Wullie's Bucket Trail – and said: “I couldn't think of anywhere better for him to be than at Ninewells Hospital. I am just delighted and quite overwhelmed by the enthusiastic crowdfunding efforts that allowed him to be bought at auction!

“Oor Dreamcatcher was created to inspire those around him to not just chase their dreams but to catch them too. Sixteen children helped me and Oor Wullie catch our dreams over the summer and I hope that the combination of their dreams and mine will put smiles on the faces of those needing a little cheering up or create a nice distraction from being in hospital.

“He will remind people of the inspiring project that was The ARCHIE Foundation's Oor Wullie Bucket Trail and of how it will now go on to help make Tayside Children's Hospital even better than it is now.

“May Oor Dreamcatcher encourage lots more dreams for years to come!”