Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

The Gold Bunny Raises Money for ChildLine Over Easter

04th March 2008
EASTER IS A TIME FOR SHARING
Give a Child a Golden Chance with the Lindt Gold Bunny

For many families the extra long weekend over Easter means they can spend quality time with friends and family, over indulging in all things sweet and festive. A massive £336 million was spent on Easter in 2007* and consumers are set to beat this figure this year. But for some children Easter isn’t always filled with chocolate fun.

Lindt and The London Eye have teamed up to help Londoners give a little back this Easter by bringing an Easter light show spectacular to London, to help raise much needed funds for ChildLine – the confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people.

ChildLine president and founder Esther Rantzen said: “I am very excited about seeing the Southbank light up for ChildLine. I am sure that families will have a lovely day out while knowing that they are helping us to give more children a ‘golden’ future. We are also enormously grateful for Lindt’s effort and support in making this event possible. It is important to remember that Easter is not a happy time for all children, some of whom may be in danger or distress. Parents, grandparents, families and friends who support this event, will help create a safer, happier holiday for these children”.

To bring you this exclusive light projection, Lindt has enlisted the help of Gerry Hofsetter, the renowned Swiss light artist, who, with the aid of projection and light, will tell the story of children in search of a friend and someone to talk to. "My light art is designed to be more than just a show. It always conveys an underlying message as well," explains Hofstetter.

Renowned children’s author Mimi Thebo has been specially commissioned to write the story to accompany the projection which will take place every evening from 6:30pm – 8:30pm on the Shell Building during the 11th – 24th March. The projection will be seen from Waterloo Bridge, Southbank and the Northbank but to get the best seat in the house head to The London Eye where you'll be spoilt with unrivalled panoramic views of the Capital.

The London Eye landscape will be transformed into a fundraising Lindt Gold Bunny wonderland with plenty of exciting activities to enjoy. Children can be transformed with face paints and marvel at giant Master Chocolatiers on stilts. You will be inspired by the giant green ChildLine telephone which will be ringing to bring visitors information about the charity and its amazing work, so you can see exactly where your donated funds are going. You won't miss the huge Lindt Gold Bunny money box where passers by can help out. There's something to keep everyone entertained - there's even the chance to pick up a Gold Bunny of your own as there will even be giveaways of the delicious treats!

There’s no mistaking it! Over the course of time, the Lindt Gold Bunny created with the finest smoothest chocolate in its most magical form, with its endearing face, shiny gold wrapper and hand finished distinctive red ribbon and bell, has become a symbol of Easter and has a very special place in the hearts of chocolate fans – young and old making it an ideal partner to support ChildLine over this festive season.

So, this Easter why not relive your childhood, hop to the award winning London Eye and in return ‘Give a Child a Golden Chance’ with the Lindt Gold Bunny.

* Source – The Alliance

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For more info or product images, contact Sasha Mattus or Estelle Boon at Publicasity on 020 7632 2400 or lindt@publicasity.co.uk

Notes to editors:

LINDT: For more than 160 years the Lindt Master Chocolatiers have developed and refined their unique secret recipes with absolute devotion to crafting the finest chocolates. Lindt uniquely control every stage of the process from cocoa bean to the highest quality of chocolate. The conching process, developed by Rodolphe Lindt in 1879 gives Lindt chocolate its unrivalled melting sensation. Lindt is now the worldwide leader for premium chocolate products, offering the widest selection in more than 80 countries around the world. The Lindt Gold Bunny has become the iconic symbol for Easter and since he first opened his eyes to the world of chocolate in 1950 has spread Easter joy to the hearts of the young and old alike. www.lindt.co.uk

ChildLine: ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people, with trained volunteer counsellors available to comfort, advise and protect. In February 2006, ChildLine formally joined with the NSPCC in a move that will ensure even stronger services and a more influential voice for children of all ages. The ChildLine service, now one of the NSPCC’s listening services, still has the same well known telephone number – 0800 1111 – and children and young people can still call twenty four hours a day and receive the same crucial service.

The London Eye: At 135m, The London Eye is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel. It was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects and has won over 78 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement. Since 2000, it has attracted over 28 million visitors.
The London Eye is operated by the London Eye Company Limited, a Merlin Entertainments Group Company.

Gerry Hofstetter: Gerry is a Light Artist and the Official Artist of the UNO for the UNHCR
World Refugee Day. He creates designs and implements spectacular artistic light
performances. Previous performances include the illumination of icebergs in the Antarctica on
behalf of the UNESCO and unique light projections on the Pyramids in Egypt.
http://www.hofstetter-marketing.com/lightart.html

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