The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Switched-on fundraising
Charity: Designer makes thousands of pounds with her home-made lamps
A designer’s bright idea has helped her raise £10,000 for charity.
Lynne Anderson has been using glass bottles to make home-made lamps, selling them on and giving the money to Charlie House.
The Lynne’s Lamps for Charlie House initiative has been running for almost a year and she has created 320 designs.
As well as the lamp initiative, Mrs Anderson climbed Machu Picchu to raise funds – resulting in a lofty £10,000 total.
She said: “I was initially tasked by Charlie House to raise £4,300 to help build a bedroom in its new building.
“I had seen similar bottles in the shops, but I didn’t like the way the wires were. So, I thought ‘can I do that better?’ and it took off from there.
“After I had reached the target, people asked if I would stop making the lamps, but I enjoy doing them.
“I find them quite therapeutic to just sit and make in an evening so I just kept going with them.”
Aberdeen International Airport has also teamed up with the artist to support her work. Staff will be bringing in empty bottles and donating them in batches of 12.
Staff at the airport’s Northern Lights Lounge will also be donating some of the rare, limited edition bottles they have collected.
Emma Lindsay, the airport’s environmental co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted to help Lynne Anderson in this creative way of raising funds for Charlie House.
“The work Lynne produces for the charity is not only beautiful but also supports a fantastic cause.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local charities, this initiative is a great way to get the whole airport involved.”
Charlie House is a local charity that supports babies, children and young people who have lifethreatening or life-limiting conditions. It opened in 2011 and supports families in the north-east.
The lamps can be created from bottles already in stock or they can be custom-made with glass bottles of a client’s choosing.
They are priced from £39 to £45 and can be purchased from www.facebook.com/ lynneslamps/
Mrs Anderson added: “I will keep making the lamps as long as orders keep coming in. The contribution from Aberdeen International Airport will also help support my work.”