To fundraise for a half marathon?

The guys who are genuine charity runners may have paid their 300 quid or whatever it costs to the charity who sold them their place, then raised funds separately for a different charity altogether, something close to their hearts. Not something they picked from a list because they wanted to run the race and it was a means to an end.

Even if they were doing it for the same charity that sold them their plac, perhaps that's because that charity does have special significance for them,

If genuinely want to raise funds for whichever charity you are running for, then by all means, YOU strap a fridge to your back or dress up as a giant pair of testicals or run in a bear suit or whatever makes it even harder for you and drawd the required attention to your charity.

But you won't because that's not why you are doing it. Is it?

I have no idea who you are talking about. But sex is obviously irrelevant. It is the act of making other people pay for your experiences and make donations on your behalf so that you can do an experience you personally want to do at a reduced price that I take issue with.

Run a half marathon if you want to- but pay for it yourself.
Donate to charity if you want to - but pay for it yourself.

But you're NOT "doing something for charity", you're doing something you want to do, and trying to get others to 'do something for charity', by getting them to make donations on your behalf.

This is it IN. A. NUTSHELL.

@tilyougetenough You're rather scraping the barrel by trying to suggest that people who disagree with this type of fundraising are influenced by the sex of the fundraiser.

You're very rude as well as entitled.

Do you really not get it?

You are running the race because it benefits you.

You are expecting other people to pay for you to have this experience.

People do not like this. They want you to pay for your own experiences, and donate your own money to the charities that you wish to support.

You are being selfish and entitled to dress this up as "doing something for charity". It's nothing of the sort.it's foing domething you want to fo (both the run and the donation) but at other people's expense. And during a CoL crisis, that's innapropriate and tone deaf.

Personally I don't welcome fundraising requests in the workplace, whether for colleagues or their children. I prefer to make up my own mind about which charities I will donate to and it can feel awkward in the workplace if you don't agree to donate.

I agree with pps that when it's something like a run or a trek you are essentially paying for someone to do something they enjoy. It might be a challenge but no one does a charity marathon if they don't enjoy running. That's fine if you care about the charity and can afford to make a donation, but not if it's one that you wouldn't normally support or can't afford it.

But you're NOT "doing something for charity", you're doing something you want to do, and trying to get others to 'do something for charity', by getting them to make donations on your behalf.

If you really want to 'do something for charity', then put your own hand in your pocket and donate directly to charity yourself.

If you really want to challenge yourself to run a half marathon (which I think is admirable by the way), then put your own hand in your own pocket and pay the full price entrance fee.

Leave others (and their money) out of it.

Nothing wrong with mentioning it once and asking for donations via mass email at work and a social media post.

I wouldn't do any more than that though, so as not to put people on the spot or come across as pushy if its repeated every week

That way people can choose to ignore the post/email or donate if they want

I'll be honest, I've stopped sponsoring people at work. There is a fundraiser email sent round about every 2 weeks because so and so is running a marathon/doing a triathlon/kid is going to Kenya etc and I've got sponsorship fatigue.

I have charities that I personally donate to and other than very close family/friends, thats enough fundraising for me.

Actually I do have a bit more sympathy for kids trying to fundraise if they are actually doing something (as opposed to mum or dad selling chocolates in the office on their behalf). It’s a bit different as usually the kids have been asked to raise money by or for the school, guides etc and it teaches them some good lessons so definitely not the same as a fully grown adult wanting others to fund their hobby which is just cheeky. However if it was just that the parents had directed the kids to go around selling cakes or cookies in the neighbourhood because they feel like raising money for a particular charity I’d also find this unacceptable. Also, it’s rarely a case of someone wanting to support a charity so they decide to do something hard and uncomfortable to convince others to donate, more like they want to do a run or whatever and need to make a minimum charity contribution to get a place. In the OPs example she’s lost weight, gotten into running, wants to do a half marathon and now needs others to pay for her place essentially, she’s said as much herself. If she cared that much about the charity she could save the hotel and transport costs she mentioned and just donate all that to her charity without doing the run.

You’re either deliberately refusing to acknowledge the point people are making here or are actually being a bit thick. Of course when you mention it your colleagues are not going to tell you to your face that they think it’s an inappropriate request. One colleague has already hinted at this. Others probably will ask for the link when put in that position to avoid awkwardness. Some will be genuinely happy to donate. I’ve had situations at work where direct reports of mine have asked me to sponsor their charity runs and I feel obliged to smile and donate as I don’t want them to think they have a tight boss or create an awkward dynamic but in my head I’m definitely thinking that they should fund their own bloody hobby instead of hitting up their boss and colleagues. It’s not even about the money, I can easily afford to put in a tenner whenever someone asks and I do, but they can also easily afford to cover their own charity costs and I find it presumptuous and inappropriate for them to ask in the first place in the workplace, so I do judge them a bit for that.

If you flip it around and assume that everybody who gives not only has £X spare but also truly wants to give it to the same charity without any 'encouragement', why on earth would they require you to do anything before they will give it - and presumably will keep back for themselves this money that they otherwise dearly wanted to give to that charity if you don't do it?

With this in mind, I think it's safe to say - especially for the massive household-name charities - that pretty much all active fundraising (i.e. apart from a poster and a bucket left discreetly for anybody who passes by and happens to want to donate) includes an inherent element of persuasion/coercion which, by definition, most people won't genuinely welcome.

Are people this begrudging of children who raise money for charity or their sport club or activity?

I see it as: someone wants to raise money for charity to thank them for supporting them/their friend/family member or to help continue research into important area. So they will do a hard thing, like run 13.1 miles, and ask if people will sponsor them to do so. Or buy a cake with the money going to the charity.

Where did that become a cheeky thing to do? It would be cheeky if people were being forced to hand over a tenner under menacing actions. Not pay a quid for a bun.

I know some people will only donate if they think the person asking for donations is putting in equal or more effort than it takes to put their hand in their pocket. It still isn't equal to demanding strangers to pay for a skiing holiday!

Plus running 13.1 miles is bloody hard if you aren't a frequent runner! It's hard to do even if you are a regular runner too. (I know, I've done it 8 times).

How?

I want to ski. The lift fees go to charity. Hit up coworkers for lift fees because I can't afford the full lift fees.

You want to run a race. Your fees go to charity. You want to hit up coworkers for fees because you can't afford the full race entry fees.