AN ARTIST has enlisted the help of children to help create a sculpture to raise cash for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of her footballer father, Willie Maddren.

Lucy Pittaway, from Brompton on Swale, near Catterick, created the papier-mâché ‘thumbs up’ sculpture as the centrepiece of her upcoming art exhibition at Tennants, Leyburn, next month.

Youngsters from Brompton on Swale Church of England Primary School helped Mrs Pittaway, whose father, a former Middlesbrough legend, lost his battle with the condition 15 years ago.

Part of the proceeds from the exhibition, from August 15 to 31, which will feature original work and prints, will go towards the MND Association.

Mr Maddren became a campaigner for MND research raising more than £200,000 for the charity, including £40,000 from his autobiography, Extra Time.

The sculpture measures three feet by six feet and represents the original symbol of the MND Association.

There will be a letterbox shaped space in the sculpture and Mrs Pittaway wants people attending her exhibition to show their support by posting donations inside.

Mrs Pittaway said: “I had a fantastic time with the wonderful children from Brompton-On-Swale Primary school.

“We got stuck into the wallpaper paste and PVA and covered the giant hand in papier-mâché.

“I half expected more of it to be on the eight and nine-year-olds I was working with but they took the project seriously and gave it their best effort. The children then painted it bright blue, the colour used by the MND Association.

“I wanted to work with local children in creating a memorable piece for the exhibition. It’s wonderful to combine an arts workshop with creating something that will be both eye-catching and symbolic during the weeks of the exhibition.”

For further information visit www.facebook.com/LucyPittawayArt or www.lucypittaway.co.uk.