Being sponsored for not doing much.

[Dogtrousers]

Here's a nice quote from Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" For "doing it on a bet" read "doing it for charity"

Once when Doc was at the University of Chicago he had love trouble and he had worked too hard. He thought it would be nice to take a very long walk. He put on a little knapsack and he walked through Indiana and Kentucky and North Carolina and Georgia clear to Florida. He walked among farmers and mountain people, among the swamp people and fishermen. And everywhere people asked him why he was walking through the country.
Because he loved true things he tried to explain. He said he was nervous and besides he wanted to see the country, smell the ground and look at grass and birds and trees, to savor the country, and there was no other way to do it save on foot. And people didn’t like him for telling the truth. They scowled, or shook and tapped their heads, they laughed as though they knew it was a lie and they appreciated a liar. And some, afraid for their daughters or their pigs, told him to move on, to get going, just not to stop near their place if he knew what was good for him.
And so he stopped trying to tell the truth. He said he was doing it on a bet — that he stood to win a hundred dollars. Everyone liked him then and believed him. They asked him in to dinner and gave him a bed and they put lunches up for him and wished him good luck and thought he was a hell of a fine fellow. Doc still loved true things but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress.

 

[MarkF]

I am not interested in sponsoring able bodied people doing a short walk, on a sunny day, along a flat canal towpath. Bugger off! I am still saving up to fund a dream ride across India on a Royal Enfield.

I wouldlike to see things like sponsored litter picks or graffiti and chewing gum removal

Excellent idea, I'd be happy to contribute.

 

[steveindenmark]

I've lost count of the number of times people just dont get why I did the transam without raising cash for something or other.

It seems like we are no longer allowed to do anything for fun anymore. I think it must be hard enough organizing these long rides, without having to scout around with a collection box as well.

Steve

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

That was one of my Dad's favourite books.

Did he get sponsored to read it?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

No but, if you want, you could sponsor me to read Ulesyes.

I could start off by helping you to spell it

 

[cosmicbike]

I wouldlike to see things like sponsored litter picks or graffiti and chewing gum removal

I sponsor that every year, and my local council get the best part of £2k 'sponsorship' every year......

Sponsoring people to do somebody else's work is a no no for me. On the other hand, it is a perfectly good use for those serving community service.

 

[snorri]

I could start off by helping you to spell it

Don't miss the opportunity, we could have a sponsored spelling bee

 

[Markymark]

Ok, we can solve this. Let's all agree ti sponsor walking at 30p per mile and cycling at 10p per mile.

If that becomes known as the going rate maybe the organisers will create decent challenges.

 

[asterix]

I could start off by helping you to spell it

You didn't know 'Ulesyes' is the simplified version? a.k.a 'Ulysses for Dummies'?

 

[ufkacbln]

fair point.

if 1:10 of the group that rode 8 miles round a park takes up cycling to replace their daily car journey, it's a double win... few quid to charity and one less car.

edit... but, as ColinJ points out, charity events can be a great way of lining the organisers' pockets.

I was asked to help support a local group doing the LEJOG for Charity, and I would know about local bike shops, clubs etc.

When I looked into it the group of three and the driver of their camper van had calculated that their costs would be £5000 and this would be taken from the money before the remainder went to charity. They were EACH budgeting on £100 per night for accommodation and food with a further £25 each for expenses such as petrol, lunch etc

It was basically a paid for holiday

I distanced myself from the project

 

[MontyVeda]

a hundred sobs a night when they've got a camper van, and 25 pound per day for expenses such as petrol when they're supposed to be cycling...
I think you did right

a friends daughter has just spent £2000 to do voluntary work in Sri Lanka.... that's a £400 flight, and £1600 for two weeks accommodation & food whilst she volunteers!

 

[Accy cyclist]

I saw a programme the other month were they were doing a "dog poo clean up" for charity. They were being sponsored to pick up dog dumps in a local park,many of them weeks old with fungus on them! This was on the local news at tea time which kind of put me off my pork chop spuds and veg! To me that is more civic minded than running cycling walking etc where nothing is achieved apart from someone burning up a few calories. Shame on the dirty devils though who made that charity event possible!

 

[slowmotion]

A guy at work approached me to sponsor him for a charity abseil down a twenty storey office building in aid of a stroke charity. He asked for £5. He got a bit more. I'm hopeless with heights. Good for him!

 

[vernon]

a hundred sobs a night when they've got a camper van, and 25 pound per day for expenses such as petrol when they're supposed to be cycling...
I think you did right

a friends daughter has just spent £2000 to do voluntary work in Sri Lanka.... that's a £400 flight, and £1600 for two weeks accommodation & food whilst she volunteers!

I'd venture that the main beneficiaries are the organisers of the venture...

 

[SteCenturion]

Think I might do a sponsored sponser -
Where you sponser me cash for sponsoring me cash & so on -
Soon - I will OWN the WORLD