Sponsorship

[ktlou]

Hi all, I'm a little miffed about something so wanted your opinions. I'm doing a 10k WALK on Sunday for Crusaid (a charity for HIV and AIDS sufferers throught the UK and Africa and a cause that I support completely and passionately). I've asked people at my work to sponsor me but they said i'm only doing a walk which isn't much!!! And because other people have done the Cancer Research Race for Life (and run it!!) that it's not as worthy!!! Surely it should be about the charity and what the money goes to and NOT about whether I'm running or walking or skipping or swimming!!! What are your opinions please! Would you sponsor me just for walking or would you sponsor less or more depending? www.walkforlife.co.uk/teamjk is the link incase any of you feel so perturbed by this that you'd like to sponsor me!!! (cheeky I know but what the heck - it's for a great cause!!) Many thanks for your replies in advance! Ktlou xx

[kazza12345]

maybe it was just the peoples way of saying that they didn't think the charity was worthy, or that they'd rather support a british based charity, or even that they had never heard of your charity?

[nat_84]

i see where both u and your work mates are coming from.....

There are a few factors here i think...

People, like others to earn money - even if it is for a charity - in other words why should they give the money to u for walking when they can just give money directly - via a charity box or online??

People appreciate more if you work hard to raise money.

Also, Race For Life has only recently passed (i ran the course) so people have been handing out a lot for chairty as it is.


Another factor is, even though it may seem racist, some people (i believe) prefer to give to charities that support kids/adults in thier own country.

Only reason i say this is because, i went out to Ghana for 3 months to help kids and i got a lot of "why dont u stay in England and help kids here?". Although it may have been jest i was still a bit taken back by it.

Anyway, i personally think what you're doing is fabulous and wish you all the best!! xxx

[saintjohnny]

I think there is a creeping cynicism about charities that is gaining in strength. It does seem sometimes that people have been giving money for all sorts of causes for years, even decades, and yet the same problems seem to never go away. Having worked for a disability charity last year, I was astounded at the salaries being paid to the executives - �100,00 per year in one case. Charities are now large, commercially run enterprises, and you may be picking up on some resentment towards this. Sorry not to be more specific. Also, I'll bung a fiver towards you.

[Octavius]

Perhaps, like my office here, we are inundated daily with people doing this and that for charity and expecting a minimum amount every time.

I suspect that it is not about you or what you are doing, just that maybe they are fed up of all the sponsorship forms. I don't hold any water in the premise that people won't sponsor for overseas (foreign) charities as most people would want to contribute. I can see some merit in saintjohnny's answer above in that most people feel that most of the money they donate sadly, is swallowed up by administration costs.

[jiggy-gb]

I agree with saintjohnny, people seem to be more aware these days of how charities operate. Also people are getting more and more miffed with us all paying for research through donations so that the wealthy pharmaceutical companies can get the cures, then rip us off selling them back to us!
Another problem is that for any one particular illness there will be about 200 different charities!
I do think your colleagues are being rather rude though, they could atleast try being honest and admit that they're charitied out this month or something instead of doing down your noble efforts!? I'll donate something later when I'm on a more secure pc hun, good luck for Sunday xxx

[ktlou]

Thank you all so much for your answers - I do understand where you are all coming from and maybe it is because they would rather not donate or prefer a different charity! I guess I'm just a different person cos I'll always sponsor someone or donate - even if it's only a couple of quid!! Huge thanks to johnny and jiggy too for your sponsorships - I'm seriously grateful to you both!! Thanx! xx