PUPILS and patients can have a visit from a Snowdog to raise money for charity.

Pebbles, the brightly coloured sculpture which graced Hove seafront during the popular Snowdogs trail last year, is now available for rent by schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other organisations.

Brighton-based events management company Yellow Fish is leasing out its model pooch to raise more money for The Martlets hospice in Hove.

Company managing director and founder Maria Valentine came up with the idea after successfully bidding £5,200 to keep Pebbles, which the company had sponsored throughout the project.

She has kept the model at her home ever since but set up the “Pebbles on Tour” project to keep Snowdog fever alive.

She saw it as a chance to raise more money for the hospice which had cared for her sister and to mark her death ten years ago.

She hopes pupils and patients will be filled with joy when they are visited by the uniquely designed dog and will be spurred on to raise more money.

Maria said: “We sponsored Pebbles during the trail and were lucky enough to be able to keep him after the trail after bidding for him at the auction.

“I wanted to continue the success of Snowdogs by the Sea, particularly because children really engaged with it.

“I came up with the idea of Pebbles going on tour and visiting lots of places. I thought it would be great for schools, hospitals or care homes.

“I think it would be a lot of fun and all we ask is that people try to fundraise for The Martlets at the same time.

“I thought this would be a brilliant way to remember my sister Karen – the cause is really personal to me.”

Varndean School headteacher Karen Lees, who died of breast cancer in March 2007 aged 47.

Maria said: "She was an incredibly special lady with so much love to give. That is why I want Pebbles to do the same.

"Education was at her heart and she brought fun as passion to it."

Rent is £100 which covers delivery costs and insurance and allows you to keep Pebbles for a week. 

Maria is working with Steve Sole, who runs removal company Nice Man Big Van, and he has agreed to transport the Snowdog around the city at a discounted rate.

Organisations further afield in Sussex can also take part but delivery costs may differ.

Anyone who hires Pebbles is asked to raise a minimum of £50 for The Martlets.

Maria said: “I want to see if we can get him out to as many places as possible and see how much we can raise for The Martlets. We’ve mainly thought about places in Brighton and Hove but there is no reason why we could not consider places in East and West Sussex as well.

For information and to book Pebbles, call Sue Wright at Yellow Fish on 01273 223504 or email sue@yfish.co.uk.