Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
28th May 2014, 11:26
Read the article below on BBC site (and just had an e-mail from a co-worker doing a skydive for this 40th / a cancer charity) and I wondered how you guys felt about it.
It has become commonplace to be asked to contribute to charity by sponsoring a parachute jump or exotic trek. But why should you fund other people's trips of a lifetime?
You used to get something in return for giving to charity. Whether it was bob-a-job week or buying a cake at the church fete, it was not an all-round loss.
Even entering a raffle gave you an outside chance of winning a stuffed toy or a bottle of Madeira.
A quick internet search reveals pages of organisations offering to arrange walks to Everest base camp, skydiving, and other high-octane experiences - brazenly assuring participants they will not be out of pocket.
"How much does it cost?" is the top query on one skydiving company's FAQ page.
The answer: "Absolutely nothing!
"A bit of time and effort to collect enough sponsorship and you can skydive for free.
"Some of the money that you raise will go to the charity and some of the money will go towards paying for the skydive."
A trekking company trumpets: "Whether you want to lose weight, get fit, experience new cultures, or just achieve an impressive goal, all whilst raising funds for charity, we can help."
Losing weight, getting fit and experiencing new cultures are evidently admirable things to do.
But are they about self-fulfilment or fundraising?
(Full article here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27485754 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27485754))
It has become commonplace to be asked to contribute to charity by sponsoring a parachute jump or exotic trek. But why should you fund other people's trips of a lifetime?
You used to get something in return for giving to charity. Whether it was bob-a-job week or buying a cake at the church fete, it was not an all-round loss.
Even entering a raffle gave you an outside chance of winning a stuffed toy or a bottle of Madeira.
A quick internet search reveals pages of organisations offering to arrange walks to Everest base camp, skydiving, and other high-octane experiences - brazenly assuring participants they will not be out of pocket.
"How much does it cost?" is the top query on one skydiving company's FAQ page.
The answer: "Absolutely nothing!
"A bit of time and effort to collect enough sponsorship and you can skydive for free.
"Some of the money that you raise will go to the charity and some of the money will go towards paying for the skydive."
A trekking company trumpets: "Whether you want to lose weight, get fit, experience new cultures, or just achieve an impressive goal, all whilst raising funds for charity, we can help."
Losing weight, getting fit and experiencing new cultures are evidently admirable things to do.
But are they about self-fulfilment or fundraising?
(Full article here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27485754 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27485754))