UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 03 MARCH 2017
Visitors to Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre will have noticed the iconic Bull statue donning a new heart-themed outfit, created by fashion students at Birmingham City University.
“Our iconic Bull is one of the most photographed landmarks and was recently named as one of the world’s top public works of art”, said Michaela Moore, General Manager at Bullring.
First-year Fashion Design students were tasked with creating a costume for the six-tonne Bull sculpture by Little Hearts Matter, Bullring’s charity of the year.
“We’re sure that our visitors will really enjoy his makeover, courtesy of Little Hearts Matter and Birmingham City University, and ask them share their photographs on social media using #LHMBull to help raise awareness for the charity, ” stated Michaela.
18 year-old Coral Newcombe impressed the charity with her outfit design, featuring puzzle pieces and an extended zip along the chest area.
“I undertook lots of research to get a real understanding of the charity, the work they do and the support they provide to families”, said Coral, from Grendon near Tamworth.
“The zip signifies the scarring that many children are left with after heart surgery and I included that on the outfit as a symbol of empowerment.”
Coral created the outfit in three weeks with fellow students Lydia Dickinson, Georgette Hughes, Charlotte Mander and Milly McDowell.
“We’ve been so impressed with the professionalism of the students and the approach they’ve taken to the project”, said Bal Kainth, senior fundraiser at Little Hearts Matter.
Little Hearts Matter is a national UK charity offering help to those affected by the diagnosis of a single ventricle heart condition.
From initial antenatal diagnosis, through treatments and into life at home, the Birmingham-based charity works with children, young adults and families to reduce the isolation, fear and lack of understanding created when a child is diagnosed as having half a working heart.
Up to 600 babies are diagnosed as having a single ventricle heart condition each year. Many of those diagnosed are before birth and others are following the collapse of their heart in the first few days after being born.