This is one of the most emotional posts I have written. Last December, Rachel Singer, a primary teacher I worked with many years ago, died from bowel cancer. She was in her forties. Kinellar School was the only place she taught, beginning in nursery and eventually ending up teaching digital skills which had always been one of her strengths.

Finding appropriate ways of remembering a teacher – or a child – who dies is not always easy. However last year’s P4 class and their teacher, Mrs Gibb, at Kinellar School created a beautiful way of acknowledging Rachel.

The school participated in a local arts project that is happening in North-East Scotland this summer. It’s called The Big Hop Trail. You can find over 90 hares that have been decorated and placed in various locations. The big hares are all outside. The small school hares are in indoor locations. The hare about Rachel can be found in Inverurie at the Garioch Heritage Centre. My understanding is that once the trail ends, the hare goes back to Kinellar School.

The Hare Trail is a fundraiser for CLAN, a local cancer charity that provides much needed support and this includes rural communities in Shetland and Orkney, Moray, Aberdeenshire as well as Aberdeen City. Every big hare is auctioned off at a finale event and the funds go to CLAN. Every hare has a QR code to encourage people enjoying the hares to donate. The hares are now no longer on display and being moved to a central location – The Music Hall in Aberdeen for a farewell event on 16th and 17th September.

The design of Rachel’s hare is incredibly child-friendly. In the words of Mrs Gibb, “I was quite emotional when their little drawings came together. Our head teacher painted the background. The keyboard taking wings and flying into the sky came out better than I could have imagined! We also got a super education pack from Clan about Cancer so we did a mini project and had lots of discussion about relatives and even life after death.”

The words in the clouds come from songs about stars. All-in-all it remains one of the most creative and inspirational hares in the trail.

The art trail is one of many that happen throughout the UK and are facilitated by Wild in Art a charity that works world-wide. They have different themes. I have friends in both Hampshire and Cirencester who also have had hares. Keep a look out in your region or city and get involved if you can. Any donations are also gratefully received by the named charity.

If you are affected by the loss of a loved one or a cancer diagnosis, there are organisations that can support you:

• Winston’s Wish  is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief.
• Macmillan Cancer Support – lots of helpful advice about cancer. A good starting place.
• CLAN Cancer Support is a local charity to North-East Scotland, Shetland and Orkney. They help people live with and beyond their or their loved one’s cancer diagnosis and improve the quality of life for all those who turn to us for support