News & Resources The Blog: Confessions of a fundraiser - Wednesday 22nd December 2010
The Blog: Confessions of a fundraiser - Wednesday 22nd December 2010
I’m LifeBuilder’s fundraiser and I love my job. Every morning I get to go to work and with the knowledge that if I do well, I will have had a role in helping someone in hardship pull themselves out of poverty. In addition I get to meet some amazing people (do I sound clichéd enough yet?) – the people who stand out most for me are those ones who take on a personal challenge just to raise money to help someone else – someone they don’t know and will never meet. Each year I talk people through how they can run a marathon/ climb a mountain/ cycle through a country and every time I get a signed form back confirming their commitment I get a thrill, not only from their potential contribution to the charity but the fact that they have chosen to stretch themselves and take on a real feat.
But I have a confession to make – every time I talk to someone about their challenge event – or persuade them to run a marathon I get a pang of guilt – as (and I will whisper this very quietly encase anyone hears) I haven’t actually taken on a sponsored challenge since school (the last one being a BT Swimathon circa 1995 – somehow I don’t think being able to complete 10 lengths of Isleworth pool aged 26 will really cut it now). Yes, I have organised gala dinners and fundraising talks. I’ve even done a coffee morning fundraiser in the office but I haven’t actually taken on a personal challenge to raise money for a cause I believe in; I have never done a challenge which gives me a buzz from showing that when I put my mind and determination to something I can do it.
Now anyone who has ever met me might have guessed that it would be a feat of mammoth human endurance if I ever took part in London Marathon/ tried to climb Mount Kilimanjaro/ cycle from Lands End to John o’Groats – if only because of the amount of time I would inevitable spend waiting in A & E -it is fair to say I’m a touch accident prone – as I write this I’m currently in pain after injuring my back wrapping Christmas presents; I am also the girl who managed to break her toe with a pair of tights. And don’t get me started by how my physique (I’m a bit more Nigella Lawson than Paula Radcliffe in that department) and lack of any coordination (which is so bad I wasn’t allowed to play tennis with real people at school but had to play with the wall) will be a hindrance which even with the best training in the world maybe something which I can never overcome.
This left me thinking what could I actually get sponsored for? It would have to be something which meets my essential criteria of a good sponsored challenge - a) achievable b) genuine challenge for me (this doesn’t necessarily mean doing the biggest/fastest/hardest/longest but something which is a particular challenge for me) - and c)time limited.
After much racking of the brains thinking what would be hard for me to do I was lead to think about the regular comments my family and friends say about me that I’m loud and opinionated. Despite all my protest about being “quiet in my head” after being accused of being loud it sadly dawned on me last year at my work Christmas party that it might be true. A colleague had a decibel app on their iphone – it turns out that (admittedly in a slightly noisy pub) I had a decibel reading of over 90dB – which at constant exposure causes hearing lost – therefore making me noise pollution.
On a daily basis I get reminded how trying my slight ADHD unconnected ramblings can be for others. LifeBuilder’s UK Director Melanie Brown’s weary face after my 14th rambling unconnected thought of the day before she has finished her first coffee is all you need to look at to be see the impact of an opinionated chatter box.
And poor strangers get the brunt of this too – I’m pretty sure that after watching Question Time my new neighbours already know my views on student fees, Europe and immigration – and are in a position to tell you how I will vote in May on the referendum on Alternative Vote.
So I decided the challenge which would be a personal challenge (and would give my lovely friends and family a bit of a rest) which with some real might I could raise money for LifeBuilder is a sponsored silence. Therefore, over the Christmas period while everyone else is enjoying the merriment my thoughts will turn to “can I really be totally silent for 24/36/48 hours all in aid of raising money to help poor communities in Punjab for LifeBuilder”?
I haven’t made up my mind yet (I really am quite scared of doing this – where will all the words go if they can’t get out?!) – but initial feelers out to some friends and family have been met with hysterics of laughter and an assumption I’m joking – which is stiffening my resolve to do this. And I’m also starting to contemplate what it would be like to complete this challenge and the sense of absolutely smugness I will feel next time I’m accused of being too loud (as well as achieving something which isn’t easy). I will of course write here on this website in the New Year if I do decide to do it.
All this thinking has made me really appreciate the strength of character needed to sign oneself up for challenges which really test of one’s mental and physical stamina and the drive that is needed before they even begin their training and get to the start line. For all those people that raise £1,000s for charities each year by taking on a personal feat I say thank you for all your efforts in helping good causes. You never know I may be joining you soon. Having spoken to many people whose challenges have taken them on a rollercoaster journey almost all have told me of the huge sense of personal achievement they feel upon completion. Maybe I should start thinking about what the first words would feel like after silence.
I would love to hear from you if you have any views (or want to fundraise yourself) – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Merry Christmas!
P.s – if you want to take part in a challenge event for LifeBuilder you can see what we have on offer here
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