20 March 2014

A Charity Case

This week we have seen the latest Facebook craze which is to raise awareness for breast cancer by posting a makeup free picture of yourself. 
 
This originated back in September when Escensual.com launched the campaign Dare to Bare for breast cancer, which aimed at getting women to get sponsored to go to work or have a night out without their make-up on.   The first 1000 people were sponsored £1.00 by the company.

That has been taken over this week by Facebook users by posting a makeup free selfie.  The problem is that whilst many people have posted the photos, they are putting little or no information about cancer and are forgetting about the donation part. They simply post the photo, nominate some people to join and then forget about it.

I am aware that Cancer Research posted a message yesterday saying that although they hadn't organised the Facebook campaign, there was a text message number you could donate to (text BEAT to 70099 to donate £3).  For the majority of postings I have seen however, it was picture only.

It was the same with the colour of your bra game and where you put your handbag.  Neither did much of anything to help, unless writing "on the table" suddenly cures cancer.

Am I being too judgemental?  Probably. 

But what actually irritates me (and this may get people shouting at me) is why is it that these Facebook crazes always fixated on cancer?  Whilst Cancer Research is of course a very worthy cause, what about the other charities that need donations and awareness as well?  Alzheimer’s Research, The Stroke Association, FMA UK, SANE, the RSPCA, the Down’s Syndrome Association, everyone has a charity that means something to them because a friend or relative is or has been affected or indeed themselves.

I want to do something to emphasis that although charities like Cancer Research are important; there are others out there too that need help and support. 

My suggestion is simple.  If I can get enough people together who would like to do the same thing, my idea is that on a day to be decided next month we would all post on our blogs and Facebook/Twitter accounts a picture of ourselves holding a sign with the name of your chosen charity, the link or text message number of how you can donate and the hashtag #IDonated.
 
 
You don’t have to donate a lot.  You can donate as little as a pound if you want to.  The point is that this would be more proactive than taking a silly picture in order to raise awareness.
 
 
This is just a fledging idea at the moment so if anyone has any thoughts and hopefully wants to collaborate on this with me, please email me at thecurvedopinion@gmail.com. 


Thanks for reading!


Vicky xx

5 comments:

  1. I will 100% get involved with this. Cancer charities are very close to my heart but there is one charity that means the world to be and is not very widely recognised. Great idea xx

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  2. I love this and the timing is fab as my friend is fundraising in May for M.E. research and I was going to do a blog post about it to raise awareness and get people to donate. xx

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    1. Yes it will as she has already started the fundraising x

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  3. I'm in sweets.... so many charities I'd be up for doing, will have to decide on which one now.... Lol! Or, I'll just list them all on one sign.... Hahaha! x

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  4. This is a fantastic idea, Vicky! There are so many worthwhile causes to donate to that deserve just as much support and awareness as the cancer charities. I'll definitely be on board if I can afford to donate next month. I still need to do my FB one, but need to wash my hair first!! Haha! Luckily most people on my timeline have included the number to text, and I will be making the donation. xx

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