UK’s most iconic landmarks lit up in glowing orange to raise awareness for rare genetic condition
SOME of the UK’s most iconic landmarks were glowing orange last night – to raise awareness for a rare genetic condition, Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS).
Battersea Power Station in London, Cardiff Castle, Newcastle’s Millenium Bridge and York City Walls were among the buildings to glow brightly.
The illusion lasted between 8.30pm until sunrise, across 38 different landmarks, symbolising the end of Prader-Willi Awareness month in May.
‘Move It May’, a month-long awareness campaign has seen people from all walks of life, including those with PWS, challenging themselves to cover a set distance through exercise, whether it be swimming, cycling, running, pushing a wheelchair or any other form of movement.
Nigel Birrell, CEO of Lottoland, the company behind the activation, said: “The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association is a charity very close to my heart and I’ve long been a supporter of the amazing work that they do.
“It’s been so fantastic to see this many buildings around the country lighting up to raise awareness for PWS, we’re really overwhelmed with the response.
“And on top of that, to have so many people coming together to move, walk, swim and even dance their way to over 2,700km is a huge achievement for the community, one they should be incredibly proud of.”
This year’s Move it May challenge serves as a reminder that movement and exercise are vital to those affected by PWS, but also hugely beneficial to the nation at large.
This year, in celebration of the UK lighting up for Prader-Willi, the entire Move it May community has covered the number of steps it would take to walk between each orange landmark – over 3.6million steps, from Dundee to Bournemouth via Belfast.
Prader-Willi Syndrome affects approximately 2,000 people in the UK and is a rare complex genetic disorder that impacts both males and females from birth and throughout their lives.
It causes an overwhelming and uncontrollable drive to eat that can be life-limiting, as well as learning and physical disabilities.
The ‘Glow Orange’ campaign was organised by Lottoland in support of its charity partner, PWSA UK and the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research UK.
In celebration, throughout June the company will be matching all donations made via its PWSA charity scratchcard, which launched earlier this year to help raise funds and awareness for the cause.
Jackie Lodge of PWSA UK and Catherine Shaw of FPWR UK issued a joint statement on the day, saying: “This is a huge step for our PWS community.
THE 38 BUILDINGS LIT UP IN ORANGE
1. Spinnaker Tower – Portsmouth
2. Bridport Tower Clock –
3. Trowbridge Civic Centre
4. Bristol City Hall
5. Cardiff Castle
6. Swansea Guildhall
7. Old Joe – Birmingham University campus
8. The Mersey Gateway Bridge
9. Belfast Castle
10. Ranfurly House – Dungannon, Northern Ireland
11. The Burnavon – Cookstown, Northern Ireland
12. TheBridewell – Magherafelt, Northern Ireland
13. Hamilton Town House – Hamilton, Scotland
14. Caird Hall – Dundee
15. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions – Edinburgh
16. Millennium Bridge – Newcastle
17. Penshaw Monument – Penshaw, Tyne and Wear
18. Darlington Hippodrome
19. Middlesborough Town Hall and City lights
20. The Merrion House – Leeds
21. York City Walls
22. C4DI building – Hull
23. Bradford City Hall
24. Trinity Arts Centre – Gainsborough
25. Green’s Windmill and Science Centre – Nottingham
26. Nottingham Council House
27. St Edmundsbury Cathedral – Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich
28. Southend Civic Centre
29. Battersea Power Station
30. Liverpool Town Hall
31. Renfrew Town Hall – Renfrew, Scotland
32. Paisley Town Hall – Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
33. Johnstone Town Hall – Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland
34. Bascule Bridge – Renfrew, Scotland
35. Kings Mill Hospital – Mansfield
36. Chesterfield Royal Hospital
37. Edinburgh International Conference Centre
38. Worcester Guild Hall
“Our respective charities have, for the first time, come together for PWS awareness month and thanks to Lottoland we have been able to make this even more special with the Glow Orange campaign.
“It is vitally important to raise awareness and funds to help our PWS community.”
