Family turn 33-year Christmas light display tradition into a fundraiser for charity after mum’s shock cancer diagnosis 

A Scottish family’s three-decade long festive lights tradition is now doubling up as a charity fundraiser to support their mum after her shock cancer diagnosis last Christmas.  

The family, from Musselbugh in East Lothian, began their Christmas light display over 33 years ago when, mum Lynn McLean, 57, purchased her first set of outdoor lights for her kids.  A Scottish family’s three-decade long festive lights tradition is now doubling up as a charity fundraiser to support their mum after her shock cancer diagnosis last Christmas.  

Since then, Lynn’s love for the festive holiday has led to the display growing larger and brighter each year. 

Sadly, last December, retail assistant Lynn was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and began a gruelling treatment process of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 

Thankfully, after 10 months, Lynn was given the all clear. 

To celebrate, the family decided to turn their annual Christmas light tradition into a JustGiving fundraiser for Marie Curie as a thank you for the care that she received at Edinburgh Western General Hospital. 

Lynn said: “As my family grew up, they began to follow the tradition and still love being a part of setting it up to this day. It is a lovely thing that brings the whole family together over the Christmas period. 

“During my illness, the Marie Curie nurses at Edinburgh Western General Hospital were incredible and always offered outstanding support. 

“Over the years, we’d spoken about using our Christmas lights tradition as a way of raising money for charities and this year we thought would be the perfect time to give back to the charity that helped us so much during my battle with cancer.” 

Lynn’s son Mark Dougal, 31, and his partner Bernie McGill, 29, along with other family members have joined forces with Lynn to make this year’s Christmas display the biggest and most impactful yet.  

After taking several weeks to set up, this year’s lights display features over 10,000 light bulbs and roughly 200 different figurines.  

Lynn said: “So far, the response to our fundraiser and the lights has been incredible, especially from all our neighbours who love to get involved and think it’s amazing. 

“This is our first-time fundraising through our Christmas lights display and if all goes well, we hope to make it an annual tradition to support the incredible Marie Curie after everything they have done for our family.” 

Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving said: “It is really inspiring to see how Lynn, with the help of her loved ones, has turned a fun family tradition into a fundraiser for Marie Curie.  

“The strength and courage Lynn has shown over the past year is incredible, and from everyone here at JustGiving, we wish you all the best in reaching your fundraising target.” 

To donate to Lynn’s family’s fundraiser, click here.

NOTES TO EDITOR

For further information contact  press@justgiving.com

About JustGiving
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JustGiving became part of Blackbaud, the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good in 2017.

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