Could the effort be better deployed ?

[Canary42]

I am frequently asked to sponsor individuals carrying out some bizarre (and some not so bizarre) activity, in aid of a deserving charity. Yet often I feel the enormous physical effort put into the activity (e.g. for marathon, months of arduous training) would be better employed as direct assistance for the disadvantaged.

For example, digging/tending disabled people's gardens - taking old folk shopping - walking pensioners' dogs - helping sick children - I am sure you can think of many more. It could still be a sponsored activity, thereby to the benefit directly and indirectly of two deserving charitable areas at the same time.

Some of the sponsored activities are so UTTERLY POINTLESS - what a waste of effort. And many are quite disruptive to other folk. Seems like an ego trip rather than genuine charitable feeling.

What do others think ?

[tinkerbell23]

I think whatever way folk want to raise some dosh is fine with me..but each to their own xxx

[cathfromsaron]

i agree in principle - eg. crossing the great wall of china seems like a holiday to me - but i also agree that what people want to do is up to them!

cath x

[tinkerbell23]

I think some like a challenge xx

[Everhelpful]

I agree with you Canary,I often wonder about the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro,who pays for that?

[cathfromsaron]

ah, yes i meant a pleasure/personal challenge NOT a holiday!

cath x

[rockyracoon]

Well that would be ok if you were doing it for a uk based charity, it wouldn't be practical to go over to Africa to help dig wells, easier to do the marathon.

[Eve]

I agree with rocky in the sense that many charities cannot benefit in the same way from individual effort as from fundraising - cancer research charities and those which help fund MacMillan nurses are another example.

I do fnd it sad though that many things these days have to have a certain amount of sponsership in that an amount goes towards the costs such as doing a charity skydive. I know that more extreme events tend to generate more in sponsership money but it is a shame that all money raised cannot go to charity without high costs being incurred and deducted from the end contribution.

[EvianBaby]

I don't agree. Some people just wouldn't be good at the things you mentioned and others don't have the time to spare for it but there are some people who are willing to put the effort into a marathon then I'm all for sponsoring money for their efforts.

What I don't really like is people asking for sponsorship to do something most able bodied people should be able to do anyway, like a mile walk/jog. And people doing sky dives. I feel like I'm paying them to do something I want to do for a bit of fun.

[Eve]

I admire people who train for marathons and such. I have quite a few friends who do runs like the Great Manchester Run every year, they would probably do it anyway but the additional money they raise is a definite bonus. There must be a significant boost in the funds donated to many many good causes just by people doing runs such as that, the marathon etc... every year.

[boxtops]

I don't mind sponsoring people who do things for charity that I just don't have the stamina or bravery to do - a friend of ours is running in the Marathon des Sables this year - rather you than me, mate.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Anyone, who pays more to charity than they gain from it gets my vote every time. You have a choice whether to sponsor them or not at the end of the day.
Skydiving is fun for some but terrifying for others. I honestly believe that when people fundraise in that way, they challenge themselves because they want to get the sense of reward from it too.

[boxtops]

My brother and his pals did a charity bungee jump a few years back. Bro is terrified of heights and when it came to it, he just couldn't do it - but I paid him anyway, he got further than I would have.

[Canary42]

Thanks for some interesting answers - I had great difficulty in choosing just one as "the best".

One or two responses seemed to overlook the point I made that the activity could still be sponsored so the original target charity would still reap the benefit.

But several points have been made which I had not considered (e.g. liking the activity and would do it anyway - I just couldn't envisage liking marathon running myself LOL).