Once in a lifetime trip disguised as fundraising for Charities

[staveleymum]

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for people raising money for Charity. People asking for sponsorship for things like Marathons, 1000 miles walked in a year, midnight walks, etc. I'm also on board with Red Nose Day, Children in Need, PTA fundraising, kids clubs fundraising and everything else that seems to constantly need money to run.

BUT I just don't get fundraising for things like hiking up Kilimanjaro or funding a trip to Borneo (for a 16 year old) to build a school or some such similar. Both these events need to raise £4,000 so they are on facebook, justgiving, etc trying to raise the money. My issue is that of the £4,000 needed how much will actually go to charity. This covers flights, accommodation, food, guides, etc - surely this is just something that they want to do as a personal thing and wrapping it up in Charity and getting others to pay for it?

I'd love to walk over Sydney Harbour Bridge but I wouldnt dream of masking it in Charity and hoping others will pay for it with perhaps 5-10% of the money raised actually going to the Charity?

I know I don't have to sponsor but I'd rather just give the donation directly to the Charity. AIBU?

Utterly agree. And for this reason, I will not EVER give to young people raising money for luxurious costly trips abroad. (Whether they are asking at a checkout in Sainsbury's where they offer to pack your shopping! Or are doing a sponsored walk!) Whilst I am OK with giving to the occasional good cause, I refuse to fund someone's glossy trip to Peru. I actually fell out with a work colleague once about something similar to this... She was asking people to sponsor her son, and asking for a minimum £10 from everyone (46 staff! Almost half a grand there thank you!) And I said no. Went down like a cup of cold sick.