BIG NAMES ATTEND EXCLUSIVE EXHIBIT OF CHARITY ‘HARE’ CANVASES

Big names from the art and entertainment worlds went hare mad yesterday at an exclusive canvas viewing for Michael Van Clarke’s latest charity venture, the HARE styling appeal.

Above Pic: Michael Van Clarke, Nicky Clarke, Paul McKenna

At the Heartbreak gallery in London, the launch event saw celebrities, artists, hairdressers, and contributors such as Charles Worthington, Nicky Clarkes, Faye Ripley, Sunday Girl and Paul McKenna viewing the HARE inspired canvases all cut, coloured and styled to raise money for two new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The collectible and unique creations are credited to some of the biggest names in the business including Tracey Emin, Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts, Jamie Oliver, Stella McCartney, Mr Brainwash, Twiggy, Catherine Tate, Jack Vettriano, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Terry Venables, HRH Princess Beatrice and The Duchess of York to name but a few.

Following the launch event, the artwork will stay on display at Heartbreak until Sunday 8^th May. Entry is FREE to the general public. The canvases are being auctioned for charity online from now, and at an exclusive ‘HARE Ball’ at The Dorchester Park Lane on May 26^th 2011. A hard bound coffee table book featuring all the HARE canvases will be printed to raise further money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

The HARE Styling appeal was started by designer, Karen Welman and leading hairdresser Michael Van Clarke whose daughter Angelica was given a lifesaving operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital when she was just two days old. Now 15 years old, Angelica drew the hare, which was then printed on the canvases and sent out in order to help raise much needed funds for the hospital that saved her life.

Commenting on HARE Styling, Michael Van Clarke says, “The pioneering work carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital provides hope to extremely sick children and their families. My family knows first-hand the incredible difference the hospital can make and I am always looking for ways to show my gratitude. When we first came up with this HARE styling idea, we weren’t sure how it would be received, but we have been overwhelmed by the response from the recipients of the canvases.”

He adds, “The fundraising potential of these canvases is huge and we are so grateful for the time and effort people have put in to creating them. We are also looking forward to handing over a big cheque to the charity once all the canvases have been sold.”

Karen Welman adds, “Like Michael, my family have experienced first hand the care, attention and dedication of Great Ormond Street and the amazing people who work there. I am incredibly excited about The HARE styling campaign and feel confident that through auctioning these beautiful and special canvases we will raise a fantastic sum for this incredibly important and lifesaving hospital.”

The initiative is part of the wider HAIRraising appeal which has seen some of the biggest names in hairdressing, coming together in a bid to raise money for the hospital. Hairdressing salons across the UK have been taking part in fundraising activities and have raised over £600,000 to date with a target of £1million. 

Nicola Roberts (Girls Aloud)

"I really enjoyed designing my hare for the HARE Styling project. Especially as I knew that the money raised was helping to fund two new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which will give lots more very sick children the treatment they need."

Catherine Tate (Comedian)

“HARE Styling is a fantastic innovative way to raise vital funds towards two new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital. I was really happy to get out the art box and lend my support.”

For further information or to see a selection of the canvases, please visit www.harestyling.com

Kids tee up for fundraising

Debenhams is giving kids the chance to wear the latest designer t-shirt from the likes of Julien Macdonald, Matthew Williamson, Ted Baker, Jasper Conran, Pearce Il Fionda and John Rocha to help raise money for other children this spring.

For the first time Debenhams has joined forces with the NSPCC, ISPCC and Children’s 1st and challenged nine of its fashion designers to create a fun t-shirt for kids to be sold in stores and online, of which all proceeds will be donated.

As well as the usual childrenswear favourites designers such as Ben de Lisi, Sadie Frost, Jemima French and Betty Jackson will have developed kids t-shirts for the very first time.

Launching on 4th April, the range is playful, colourful and inspired by children, with each designer using their own handwriting and style to appeal to kids in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for the charities.

Celebrity designer Sadie Frost commented: “We are thrilled to be involved in a project for such a great cause. Jemima and I love involving our own children in our design work, so this was perfect!

“The kids got really into it; drawing pictures, writing stories and talking about how they’d design the tees. It was great to take them along to the photo shoot and see their work in action!”

Designer John Rocha commented: “I am delighted to be involved with this great project – the NSPCC does such hugely important work.

“My inspiration for the t-shirt started with robots and electronics and a child’s curiosity about the world around them and how it works!”

Adam Rose, Divisional Trading Director for Childrenswear at Debenhams said: “We are proud to continually support the vital work of the NSPCC, ISPCC and Children’s 1st, through the launch of this fantastic range of designer t-shirts. We are sure that Mums, Dads and kids will love the exclusive designer styles and snap them straight up, making a stand against cruelty to children.”

The range includes exclusive features such as Ben de Lisi’s iconic ‘Ella dog’ motif, a shooting star from Julien Macdonald and a bespoke Jasper Conran ‘Jack in the box’ for boys and girls.

The Baker by Ted Baker girls and boys tees demonstrate the brand’s iconic use of slogans and graphics, with an urban motif for boys and cute birdsong design for Baker girls.

Meanwhile, FrostFrench’s design uses fuzzy-felt pictures designed by the duo’s own children, and a fun word game motif for kids to play whilst they wear the tees.

Pearce Il Fionda created a gorgeous puppy dog design, which uses angelic details and metallic embellishment, while finally, Matthew Williamson’s tee features cute butterfly and heart prints, reflecting his Butterfly childrenswear range.

Sadie and Jemima, the design duo ‘FrostFrench’, plus Ren Pearce and Andrew Fionda, the designers behind Pearce Il Fionda can be seen in the campaign photography, along with the celebrity ambassadors and children from the charity.

www.debenhams.com/charity-t-shirts