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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think people should do more 24/48 hour famine and less cake eating to help starving people in Africa

61 replies

sPJPPp · 08/03/2015 10:19

Is it me or has the sponsored 24/48 hour famine famine died out? 20 years ago it was a big thing, I remember how much it made me think when I did it as a teenager several times. I'm obsessive about never wasting food. These days I never hear of anyone doing it, has it been killed by health and safety?

OP posts:
Ubik1 · 08/03/2015 10:22

I think the 24 hour famine thing is really fucking patronising.

Give your money to Red Cross/Save the Children.

ahbollocks · 08/03/2015 10:25

Second food based thread in one morning OP?
Unless someone is sponsoringg you I dont see what you could possibly achieve

Nomama · 08/03/2015 10:26

No, it was killed off by common sense!

If you don't want to eat cake just donate your money!

AbCdEfGh123 · 08/03/2015 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MothershipG · 08/03/2015 10:27

It's good that it made you think OP but I think people in need probably have more use for financial aid than sympathy and I think it's easier to get people to part with money for cake than sponsorship.

But, of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't raise money and awareness in the way you choose. The more variety of approaches, the more people who will be reached.

MajesticWhine · 08/03/2015 10:27

Good idea. No one is stopping you. I assume ?

ilovesooty · 08/03/2015 10:29

I'm sure you can eat less cake if you want to, but I don't see how it will help starving children in Africa.

PtolemysNeedle · 08/03/2015 10:29

I remember doing it as a teenager as well.

I think people are less reluctant to ask for sponsorship nowadays, and I'm certainly less likely to sponsor people than I used to be simply because there are so many requests for so many different things. It used to be the norm to sponsor everyone that asked for it, but those days are gone now.

People have become more choosy about the charities they support, which I think is a good thing. I don't think it's anything to do with health and safety.

Bunbaker · 08/03/2015 10:29

YABU. If I went without food for 24 hours I would get a migraine, feel ill and not be able to function properly. I tried the 5:2 regime and simply couldn't do it.

But the I am skinny and don't have much in the way of fat reserves.

Oh, and I have given up cakes, sweets, puddings and biscuits for lent.

WayfaringStranger · 08/03/2015 10:31

You've been very busy on your first morning on MN, OP. You also sound terribly familiar.

WindYourBobbinUp · 08/03/2015 10:32

There's a surviving on so many pence a day one for Save the Children.

But money changes things, so if cake raises money I can't see the problem

Lucyandpoppy · 08/03/2015 10:37

bunbaker um I think that is the point... to in some small way feel what someone who is starving through lack of food feels... I doubt the people that are starving to death feel great either.

EveBoswell · 08/03/2015 10:38

I don't remember this 24/48 thing. Did it have a short life?

Alisvolatpropiis · 08/03/2015 10:39

Does it matter how money is being raised for the charities, via cake eating or some such other activity you consider more worthy, as long as money is being raised?

Seems like petty hair splitting to me.

londonrach · 08/03/2015 10:41

Never heard of it. I think like the band aid people realised so much money went to feed people and nothing seemed to have changed. As a result people are more picky about which charities they support.

Trills · 08/03/2015 10:43

It may have "made you think", but did it make people give money?

PtolemysNeedle · 08/03/2015 10:44

People who are interested in supporting third world countries often do so through sponsoring a child directly, but those sorts of schemes didn't exist when I was a teenager. Or if they did, they weren't widely known about.

AmberNectarine · 08/03/2015 10:57

I think sponsored walks/runs are a better initiative if you feel you can't just donate apropos of nothing!

At least they are of some benefit to the person doing them - I can't see that starving oneself helps anyone!

KateAdiesEarrings · 08/03/2015 11:54

It was definitely still used 10 years ago when I worked in international development.

If you miss it, then set up a page on justgiving, select a charity and away you go. I'm sure whichever charity you choose will appreciate it Grin

ghostyslovesheep · 08/03/2015 11:58

I don't think people in need of aid the world over give a fucking rats wank how the money is raised

that kind of self indulgent stuff says way more about the well off westerner raising the funds to be honest

DrankSangriaInThePark · 08/03/2015 12:06

I don't expect people to pay me for eating cake. Or not eating cake. I don't expect people to pay me to do anything other than my job.

I pay a set amount a month to the charities of my choice. That I choose to do this, privately, and without putting a stupid t shirt on and haranguing other people to applaud me is my business.

I think sponsored this that and the other are probably alright for children. Gets them thinking about how they can contribute in some way. But for grown ups? Do me a favour, put your own ego away and send a bloody fiver to Oxfam.

LikeIcan · 08/03/2015 12:10

What DrankSangria said.

avocadotoast · 08/03/2015 12:13

It's not really a famine if it's only 24 hours though, is it. It's a fast.

I did it as a teenager but these days I'd rather just shove a fiver in a bucket and have done.

Missda · 08/03/2015 12:19

Don't get the point of the thread OP.

fatlazymummy · 08/03/2015 12:44

I think the 'living below the line' campaign is quite popular nowadays. www.livebelowtheline.com/uk
I think that does help to raise both money and awareness.