Being sponsored for not doing much.

[MarkF]

See them on the canal every summer, rattling their buckets and dressed in silly outfits, jaunts like Apperley Bridge to Bingley..........5 miles. They are off their heads on "goodness", they haven't a clue, most people they meet are "out for a walk" but going further. I have noticed that a large % are civil servants ("Dave" & "Shelley" HRMC Keighley t-shirts) let loose from their office for the day so I can understand their eagerness.

As I posted a while back, my local Sainsbury's staff had a sponsored cycle ride, I can't find my post but it was billed as something like "Whitby to Leeds Cycle Ride". But........................ it was inside the store.....................on an exercise bike. When one member of staff got tired, usually within 2 mins, another took over.

 

[PaulB]

Young(er) people of today are much, much softer than we were and in turn, I think we may have been softer than our parents and our grandparents. When that tracking system of footballers came out, it was possible to see how much ground each player covered in every game. The comments I was reading on several football-related websites revealed the ages of the contributors. They were virtually suggesting a medal for any player that covered more than 10 kilometres in a game! TEN KILOMETRES! Then they were condemning the dreadful conditions these poor mites were slaving in having to play two games in a week and reckoned they should be rested! Professional, highly-paid athletes rested! That was when I stopped reading that drivel.

As for asking for sponsorship; I'll do it if the bang is worth the buck but when it's obvious that the participant is being ripped off or is simply a soldier of the organiser's vanity-project army, they can whistle.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

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.

 

[Lullabelle]

We walked the 25 mile Chatsworth Challenge in 9hrs 57 mins a few years ago, we have also rode a 50 mile Great Notts Bike ride. We raised a few quid and had a blast doing them. When asking for sponsor money for the walk many asked how many days would it take, they struggled to believe anyone could walk that far in one day.

Poor health has stopped us doing any more and my fitness level is just not what it was but I do think if you are going to do something for money then get off your backside and do something worthwhile.

 

[Spinney]

I'm happier to sponsor things like a litter pick, or something useful. (Although you could say that is letting the council off the hook....)

 

[MontyVeda]

ah a ****ing contest thread....
people have to start somewhere, if its 5km then so be it, who cares.. it just might be the kick start they need...
there is a site on the internet called CycleChat or something similar where many people with no fitness background got into cycling, struggled to do 10 or so miles in the beginning, some even started with a charity ride, crazy I know....

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.

 

[snorri]

there was an article about a group of people (young and able bodied) who had raised some money by doing a sponsored bike ride........8 miles around a park!
On a similar vein, we recently visited some friends whose 25 year old daughter was having a lie down as she'd done a sponsored walk with friends that day and was worn out, well she had walked 5km..

With respect sir, you are missing something.
What about the gargantuan effort required to collect in the money from those who earlier agreed to contribute? Now that IS a challenge.

Still, I do agree with your sentiments re charity challenges.

 

[Ludwig]

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

 

[oldfatfool]

If all the cash raised/ donated goes towards the charity, and not towards paying organisers/ participants holiday costs then I don't suppose it really matters, what does however piss me off are celeberity fundraisers and nationwide events (red nose etc), who due to their advertising power monopolise the charity pound leaving very little left to go round the smaller charities, and if a charity can afford to advertise on commercial prime time tv at every advert break they certainly won't get a red cent from me either!

 

[Hip Priest]

I have direct debits set up for a couple of charities, but I never sponsor anyone for anything, and nor do I ask people to sponsor me. One fella in work asked me to sponsor him to abstain from alcohol in January! For people like that it's all about 'look at me', rather than a genuine to desire to help others.

 

[Spinney]

I have direct debits set up for a couple of charities, but I never sponsor anyone for anything, and nor do I ask people to sponsor me. One fella in work asked me to sponsor him to abstain from alcohol in January! For people like that it's all about 'look at me', rather than a genuine to desire to help others.

Should have asked him if he was going to give to charity all the money he'd saved by not buying booze!

 

[ianrauk]

I have direct debits set up for a couple of charities, but I never sponsor anyone for anything, and nor do I ask people to sponsor me. One fella in work asked me to sponsor him to abstain from alcohol in January! For people like that it's all about 'look at me', rather than a genuine to desire to help others.

I so the same.
Direct debit to a charity. Very rarely do I sponsor individuals .

 

[asterix]

Once I did this sponsored walk, you had to cover 30 miles inside 10 hours.

Not being used to walking I finished in 9hrs 57mins more or less on hands and knees due to blisters. I do wish we had done it the other way round.

So yeah, not too impressed with an 8 mile bike ride round a park.

 

[steve52]

the youth of today tut tut so many no fit for purpose, bah humbug !!!! have i become old?

 

[slowmotion]

I've given up trying to explain now. I just make up a spurious charity, take the money, and buy beer with it. Everyone happy.

Excellent! I'll bring along a tin to shake at traffic lights when we stop.