Do you like donating through charity events?

[vinism]

The Betfred Affiliates team (well, seven of them) are raising money to fight various cancers that affect men by taking part in Movember. Movember is a mustache growing charity event that men all over the world are participating in. This prompted us to wonder if you are more likely to donate to charity through people participating in events like this, or through people running marathons (we know a few people who run in them for charity) or other tasks people complete for charity. Or do prefer to just write checks to the causes you care about? Please let us know what you think about these charity events, and any cause that you like to support.

[vinism]

I have to admit, I tend to typically donate exclusively through charity events like Movember. Whenever I see a friend doing something, I donate. I've donated through marathons, 10k runs, bike races and all sorts of other events. Part of it is when I see some one dedicated enough to do something, I feel compelled to donate money to the cause.

[HodgeyBoy]

Hey Vin - Nice poll and thanks for casting some more light on our campaign, I'm delighted you chose to use us as an example!

I think I'm probably like most in that I donate to charities I relate to in a number of different ways. For example, my wife and I have a direct debit each month from our bank for a cause that we support, I'll always give some change if I see official collectors in the street with their money tins if its a cause I agree with and then when you hear about people you know setting themselves some task or other to achieve then it personalises their challenge as well as the cause they are raising money for.

I think running a marathon is certainly more of a challenge than not shaving your top lip for a month and I'd def have struggled to persuade 11 friends in the office to join me in running 26 miles....The worst we'll have to put up with is some strange looks in the lift and my wife losing her enthusiasm for a cuddle!

But what Movember is good at is raising a smile and a laugh at what can be quite a taboo subject. Men are notoriously bad at coming forward with concerns about their own physical or psychological health and sports-betting employs men in the majority and its often a testosterone-fuelled environment - a perfect-storm for stress and health worries and not doing anything about it.

If any readers are so inclined I'd really appreciate it if you'd click through to our page HERE - If we make you smile then perhaps you could even consider a donation, too!

[Christoff]

This is a good thread - I am doing a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in February for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Check out the JustGiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/ChrisTKilimanjaro

On a personal level, I donate via people I know normally. I get put off by fundraisers on the street so tend to donate when a friend is doing something for a particular charity or is raising themselves on behalf of someone else.

[baldidiot]

I'm not the biggest fan of event fundraising, although I do have to admit it's effective - especially at getting people off their butts to donate. But for me, I prefer to choose who I donate to and the majority of the time people aren't necessarily raising money for the charities I want to give to.

So if a friend is running a marathon to raise money for the super-hippy vegan society, I'd much rather give the money to the sick kids society.

Having said that, I think it means a lot when the person is raising money for something very personal to them or for a specific aim - such as getting a new ventilator for a specific hospital.

[Renee]

I give to charities that are about kids. Kids with cancer, kids with disabilities etc..
If they were able to help kids have a better life or even survive then I think my money is well given.

[ocreditor]

If I'm honest, I have to admit that unless someone does something "quirky" or interesting to encourage donations I don't really remember to give to charity, so I appreciate campaigns like Movember, etc. I did have a direct debit to a certain charity set up few years ago but had a bad experience with it.

[davemerry]

It has to be something quirky or respectable for me also, although I'm not adverse to giving to any charities, it is rare that they catch my attention. For example I donated for Movember and to one of my friends who is doing a sky dive, just shows they are making the extra effort.

[BHL]

I'm very new and hardly making profit, but I prefer to give to charities for animals and or nature.
Too many people already on this planet, I'd rather help save the rainforest than give money to cancer treatment when they use the money to conduct experiments on animals.. Don't get me wrong I wish cancer didn't exist, but I have my own priorities.
And I recently saw a documentary about the rainforest, I'll spare you guys the details..

Apart from that, I once read a story about a rich dutch guy who in his life made a lot of profit by doing shady things, and at his old age tried to make up for it by setting up Nature reserves.
Kinda my life's dream, well except for the first part then..

[holkapolka]

i hope in the future to make lots of money and be able to donate money to persons in Asia and Africa.. not through red cross but through chat programs.. their income is less than ours in europe and usa.. so the money we find little to send is for them a fortune.

[F.C.Dosh]

If I had extra money, I would, but for now i dont....

But you never know what the future may bring us.