This week sees the final opportunity for the public to view the ‘Light the North’ lighthouse trail in situ before the trail starts to be removed from streets, parks, beaches, and bridges across the North-east of Scotland from Monday, October 18. North-east charity Clan Cancer Support, who is behind the trail, is encouraging the public to get out in the last week to view the sculptures before the official trail ends.
Light the North has already inspired thousands of families and individuals to get out and explore their local communities and find the lighthouse sculptures. The trail ending on Sunday, October 17 means it’s the perfect activity to squeeze into the school holidays. The trail was designed to draw people to explore, not only in Aberdeen, but the surrounding communities, Moray and the northern isles to see large and small lighthouses designed by some of the UK’s most talented artists. At the end of trail, each of the lighthouse sculptures will be auctioned off and the funds raised will help Clan to support even more people affected by cancer.
Aberdeen mum Chrisanne Aitken, who has been following the trail with her daughter, says: “My 11-month-old Isla and I have loved going to visit the lighthouses over the past few weeks! She waves hello and goodbye to each one and gets excited to see the next one. We’ll be out and about next week ticking the final few sculptures off our list, and we are looking forward to seeing the Island lighthouses at the Farewell Weekend.”
Fiona Fernie, Clan's head of income generation and business development and project director for Light the North, says: “Over the past nine weeks we have been so proud to see how the people of the North-east have taken the ‘Light the North’ lighthouse trail to their hearts. For many it has become an evening or weekend activity to explore, hunt down and collect these amazing sculptures via the app. Some people have tasked themselves with collecting all 140, which is an incredible feat and will have seen them travel hundreds of collective miles to ensure that every lighthouse was accounted for.”
Fiona continues: “We have to take a moment to thank our logistic partners Colin Lawson Transport as well as Northwards who are helping us transport the large lighthouses from the islands back to Aberdeen and NorthLink Ferries who are helping us transport the little lighthouses from the islands back to Aberdeen. Also, to Shore Porters, our amazing team of volunteers and our staff who will be out and about helping to bring all the sculptures back safely. And finally, to those who have provided a location or been a ‘little light’ venue host, thank you for being fully immersed in this colourful, exciting trail across the country, in partnership with Wild In Art.”
Fiona concludes: “We are really looking forward to seeing all of the sculptures in formation at the Parade Square within the Gordon Barracks later this month and can’t wait to see where these very special sculptures will end their journey at the auction on November 1.”
All of the sculptures available for bidding can be viewed in-person ahead of the auction at the ‘Light the North’ Farewell Weekend from September 29-31 at the Gordon Barracks in Bridge of Don - https://www.lightthenorth.co.uk/event/farewell-weekend/
To express your interest in bidding on the evening, please fill in a registration form at https://www.lightthenorth.co.uk/event/light-the-north-auction/ or for further information email lighthousekeeper@clancancersupport.org