Visitors to Dartford Football Club will be able to discover Teddy to Rock, a giant bear sculpture designed by artist Hannah Jayne Lewin, as part of Dartford We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – ellenor’s biggest ever community fundraising campaign and the first large-scale public art trail to take place in Dartford.

The club is sponsoring Teddy to Rock, which will be located at Princes Park throughout the free trail, running from 17 July to 13 September.

Led by ellenor in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Wild in Art, the trail will feature 80 individually designed bear sculptures across Dartford and Bluewater Shopping Centre. It is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors while raising vital funds and helping more people understand the specialist hospice care available across North Kent and Bexley.

Having supported ellenor over recent years, Dartford Football Club was keen to get behind the Bear Hunt and play its part in bringing the community together through this unique event.

Gareth Morgan, Director of Communications at Dartford FC, said: “We have been proud to be partnered with ellenor for the past few years and when they came to us with the Bear Hunt idea, we thought it was brilliant. It supports a great cause and as a community club we are always open to initiatives that we feel can bring people together. It will also have a massive presence throughout Dartford and the surrounding areas.”

“It’s something we feel will bring new people to the club, to see what’s going on here,” said Gareth.

“A lot of people think we are just about football and a first team for the men, but we are so much more. We have an amazing women’s side, huge youth sections and academy teams. We cater for everyone from the age of four or five right up to the retired guys who come in for weekly football and older generations for coffee mornings. We also have a nine-hole golf course and hold regular quizzes and coffee mornings and have recently held our first ever music event.”

The club also recently held its annual fun day with bouncy castles and face painting.

Gareth said: “We have things going on throughout the year and working with local charities is a great fit for us. We enjoy working with ellenor and bringing new people to the club. ellenor are often part of our events. On one occasion the players even wore ellenor tee-shirts to raise money for them.”

The club’s Supporters’ Association (DFCSA) has also played an important role in supporting the art trail. Run entirely by volunteers, the association recognised from the outset the difference the project could make to both the club and the wider community.

Gareth said: “The association is run by volunteers, and they have raised hundreds of thousands for the club over the years when we have needed equipment or financial support. They could see how much the Bear Hunt would benefit the club and the community and were happy to support our aims. As always, we thank them for their vital support.”

Jemma Kemp, Corporate Partnerships Manager at ellenor, said: “We’re delighted that Dartford Football Club is sponsoring Teddy to Rock and giving the sculpture a home at Princes Park during the Bear Hunt. As a club that sits at the heart of the local community, it’s a fantastic location for visitors to discover one of our giant bears while exploring everything the trail has to offer.

“We hope families have a brilliant time finding Teddy to Rock and, along the way, discover more about the care and support ellenor provides to local families.”

Dartford We’re Going on a Bear Hunt runs from 17 July to 13 September, with 80 beautifully designed bear sculptures waiting to be discovered across Dartford and Bluewater Shopping Centre.