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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

January dryathon

20 replies

Tigresswoods · 07/01/2015 18:53

Sponsoring people to not drink alcohol?

Seriously?

I'm sure we used to sponsor people to do worthwhile challenging things.

Don't even get me started on Movember!

I know you'll come on here & say it's for a good cause but seriously how hard is NOT drinking? (Alcoholism aside)

OP posts:

krystellie · 07/01/2015 19:01

Completely agree. I'm all for people raising money for good causes, but I'd be far more inclined to sponsor someone if they were actually pushing themselves by doing something outside of their comfort zone. Giving up drink for one month is hardly the same as a former coach potato completing a marathon...unless they're an alcoholic.

Plus the campaign encourages its 'athletes' to use JustGiving which keeps a very high percentage of donations for itself - far more than other online donation sites.

Original poster

Tigresswoods · 07/01/2015 19:03

So pleased I'm not alone.

OP posts:

Momzilla82 · 07/01/2015 19:06

Agree. Especially when one of the people concerned is often posting photos of their excessiveweekly binges (think photos of glass of wine and snug status about how deserved it is from Wednesday- Sunday).

I just think for January they are probably saving more than the amount they are trying to raise in sponsorship on their booze bill this month.

krystellie · 07/01/2015 19:14

I always thought the point was to donate the money you would typically spend in one month on going out to the pub / bottles of wine at home or in a restaurant, etc to Cancer Research, rather than asking people to sponsor you?

Mumoftwomonkeys1976 · 07/01/2015 20:00

I've decided to do the female version of Movember - Fanuary (no wonder I'm single).

Whippet81 · 07/01/2015 20:17

I'm glad it's not just me. You feel scare to say anything for fear of being slated as it's 'worthy' but honestly giving up a non-essential luxury for a month (I've just done it for nine) is not really a hardship is it (unless alcoholism issues obvs).

I don't mind people doing it as long as we don't have to have FB reports on how traumatic it is for them every day.

Original poster

Tigresswoods · 07/01/2015 20:42

Well krystellie my mate on FB was thanking her mum for the sponsorship.

OP posts:

OliviaBenson · 07/01/2015 21:52

I've done it for the last 3 years, but thus is the first year a charity seems to have cottoned on to it. It's really annoying as when I mention it to people, it's the first question they ask. I'm then left saying no, I'm just doing it for me. Grrrr.

OliviaBenson · 07/01/2015 21:54

Ps. I don't do annoying fb updates, I'm really doing it because I'm skint and need to lose the post Xmas bulge!

esiotrot2015 · 07/01/2015 21:56

We have dieting woman at work
We're meant to sponsor her to diet

If rather sponsor a sick child in Africa....

Iggly · 07/01/2015 21:58

I'm doing the dry Jan but certainly not for charity!
However I don't think sponsorship is that bad - charities are in need of funding due to government cuts, so if it helps and people want to sponsor then so be it. You don't have to.

SerenaJoy · 07/01/2015 22:11

Yep it's bugging me too. I'm not going to applaud someone for giving up their nightly weekly bottle glass of rosé to make themselves feel worthy, and I'm certainly not sponsoring them to do it! If she got off her lazy arse and did something energetic I might consider donating a couple of quid, but that's not likely to happen.

Hm. I hadn't realised till now how much it irritated me

GokTwo · 07/01/2015 22:15

I agree. Two things slightly bug me about it. One is giving money in sponsorship for someone not drinking and the other is that advert that makes out that a month without drink is SO challenging.

SerenaJoy · 07/01/2015 22:17

To clarify - it's this stupid 'dryathlon' shite that's annoying me, not the people who are just quietly having a sober January

deadduck · 07/01/2015 22:21

I'm quietly having a Dry January, but I sure as hell am not plastering it all over Facebook and coerce people to sponsor me. Very strange idea (and would be way too embarrassed if I fell off the wagon )

Treaclepot · 07/01/2015 22:26

I disagree, because it raises awareness for the charity cancer research, gives them a lot of free publicity, and encourages people not to drink, which highlights to many that their drinking is a problem (head on over to the dryathlon thread to see what I mean). If people then drink less = less cancer too.

I am doing dryathlon not for money but for myself (drink too much), but the reminder that it is linked to a cancer charity is a weird motivator.

Treaclepot · 07/01/2015 22:27

Ps I have not mentionned it on FB because who the fuck would be interested!

WooWooOwl · 07/01/2015 22:31

YANBU, I was amazed anyone would ask to be sponsored just for not drinking alcohol. It's a non event, you may a sell ask people to sponsor you to eat a roast on a Sunday.

It's even worse than when people ask you to pay for their holiday by expecting sponsorship for some bike ride or walk in an exotic location. It's

Original poster

Tigresswoods · 07/01/2015 22:52

SerenaJoy, sorry for bringing it to your attention just how much this irritates you.
Drink?

OP posts:

SerenaJoy · 09/01/2015 21:03

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