Fundraising

I’m aware that many people raise money when they are doing challenges like this. It seems a great fit: the fact that people are donating money is an extra motivation for the participant; while for the donators, it’s a good reason to give and gives them a reason to put their hands in their pockets.

The British seem particularly good at this kind of giving – as the recent and tragic story of Claire Squires shows.

Yet ..

While I’m happy to support charities and I think that the generosity that is shown is amazing, it can still sit very uncomfortably with me.

In particular it is the exotic or complex challenges, which are done for charity that annoy me the most. I’m sure that many good causes gain a huge amount of funds and exposure from organising a trek through the Andes, or a skydive event, but it always feels like I’m paying for the holiday or experience of the participant.

From a personal point of view, the reason I do these things is for me. Pure and simple (and possibly very selfishly). I don’t need the extra motivation of raising money for charity and any charity money I raise is not likely to help me finish that extra mile, I’ll do that (or not) through my own will power and determination. Whether I’m sponsored or not, I’m gonna (try to) swim Windermere.

Having said all of that, I have decided to set up a JustGiving page, because .. well .. mainly because some people just want to give to these things and who am I to stop them.

So, if you’re one of those people you can go here and donate some money to Water Aid or Sport Relief. The people that receive your donation will be very grateful and you can be proud that you have done a good thing.

However, please don’t feel obliged to do so and more importantly, please don’t feel that you have in any way inspired me. I’m doing this anyway.

But thanks.

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