Giving back

A number of heart-warming charity projects have launched this week, each aiming to raise money for good causes by harnessing the talent and creativity of designers and artists.

Pearlfisher has teamed up with leading hairdresser Michel Van Clarke to create the Hare Appeal, which will raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital by auctioning artworks created by artists, designers and celebrities.

The appeal takes its name from a drawing created by Van Clarke’s daughter Angelica. When Angelica was two days old she received a life-saving operation at the hospital and, now fifteen, has drawn a hare which has been reproduced and sent out to the likes of Jamie Oliver, Stella McCartney and Tracy Emin to inspire their own artworks.

Each of the works will be auctioned at the Hare Ball at London’s The Dorchester on Park Lane and online, here.

For another charity project, artist Michael Craig-Martin created a five-storey image for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, transforming the drab hospital atrium into a colourful, welcoming space. The mural has been adapted by drinks company Firefly, which has created a new special drink, called Step Up, which will be sold to raise money for the hospital.

Every 10p from Step Up will be donated to the project, which aims to create a friendlier environment for the children visiting the hospital. Money raised by Firefly will transform two 70m long corridors that connect the children’s ward with the operating theatres as well as art for a further 14 anesthetic rooms where patients wait on arrival at theatre and will also be used to buy some of the latest high tech equipment.