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Original poster

Brave the shave - Macmillan

163 replies

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 05/08/2017 16:12

Macmillan is a fantastic organisation, but I'm a little concerned by the new fundraising campaign. Is encouraging people to shave their heads really going to raise more money than the advertising campaign costs?

It seems a big ask, rather than a 5k run, that ice bucket challenge, or an coffee morning.

Is it just me? I can see it excluding a lot of people (including me) who might otherwise have participated in something like less "extreme", so that's a loss of potential money there is it not?

OP posts:
JigglyTuff · 05/08/2017 16:13

They're not a fantastic organisation. They nicked the Ice Bucket challenge idea which was to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (called ALS in the US where it started).

I will never donate to them again

AfunaMbatata · 05/08/2017 16:16

Just donate if you want to, I don't understand the need for people to do silly shit.

IHopeYourCakeIsShit · 05/08/2017 16:18

It might exclude you from shaving your head but that doesn't mean you can't donate.

TidyDancer · 05/08/2017 16:18

I think there's a fair few controversies with this organisation. I don't doubt that the nurses themselves do a fantastic job in the most difficult of circumstances btw but the charity is a bit questionable at times.

They tried to hijack the ice bucket challenge which was disgraceful and their nurses are actually not fully funded by the charity in their day to day work - despite how it is presented. They also have engaged in cold calling and manipulative fundraising.

demurelyblue · 05/08/2017 16:20

I think it is pretty bad really.

Shaving your head for most people is a big deal. I know someone who lost their job! (She was a bit mad though)

Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 05/08/2017 16:22

I think you're all right - I need to differentiate between the work the nurses do and the organisation itself. I hadn't known about them punting the ice bucket challenge - I was only aware of the original ALS campaign.

And I won't donate to head shaving I'm afraid. I don't see the point in the entire thing.

OP posts:
IHopeYourCakeIsShit · 05/08/2017 16:26

Why are you so hung up on the head shaving?
You are donating to the charity itself? No head shaving or sponsorship of needs to be involved.
If you have particular issues with the charity itself then that's different?

Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 05/08/2017 16:31

Because I think the campaign is bizarre and flawed.

There are other organisations that I won't donate to because I disagree with their advertising or the percentage I know is taken in overheads.

That includes Cancer UK after a phonecall begging for money after I did the Race For Life for the tenth time. The entire script sounded like a scam, and I was appalled. I put in a complaint and was pretty much told they weren't going to change, so I've withdrawn my support. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
IHopeYourCakeIsShit · 05/08/2017 16:35

Fair enough.

TulipsInAJug · 05/08/2017 16:41

There was a woman who has cancer on my local radio this week, talking about this Brave the Shave campaign. She was very critical of it. She feels the whole campaign trivialises what she and others who have genuinely lost their hair have gone through.

ArsenicNLace · 05/08/2017 16:45

Having lost my hair through chemotherapy this makes me really uncomfortable. You cannot compare voluntary shaving of your head to the trauma of being diagnosed with a potentially terminal disease and losing your hair over which you have no control. Not knowing if the treatment will be successful, if your hair (and not just head hair) will grow back again or you will ever get back to 'normal' and feel back in control of your life ate very difficult things to deal with longterm.

This seems to appeal to the more narcissistic members of society who want the attention and perceived praise they get from stunts such as this. They seem to think they now 'understand' how losing your hair affects you and no they really don't. It's just a small but visible part of the whole disease and treatment and they can't possibly understand.

Much better to quietly donate money without the whole song and dance of campaigns such as this.

80sMum · 05/08/2017 16:49

Just donate if you want to, I don't understand the need for people to do silly shit

^^This!! With bells on! I agree 100%!

JoyceDivision · 05/08/2017 16:51

I hate it: shave your head to look like you've list hair through cancer treatment to raise money! What a laff! No insulting belittling of people with cancer having treatment there then Hmm

When my dad passed away the macmillan nurse was useless but thedistrict nurses were amazing and I can't thank them enough... yet they seem to be overshadowed by macmillan

IHopeYourCakeIsShit · 05/08/2017 16:52

Arsenic Flowers Hope all is well.

Bamboofordinneragain · 05/08/2017 16:55

Arsenic you have put it perfectly. Well done.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/08/2017 16:56

I won't donate to Macmillan since one of their doorstep cold callers bullied my elderly mother into donating £10 a month.

hplove · 05/08/2017 17:29

Completely agree with Joyce and arsenic
I have had cancer but didn't lose my hair. (Although it is coming out in handfuls because of the after affects of treatment and stress of it all . )The Macmillan nurses were brilliant so I have nothing against the organisation. But i truly hate this campaign. It belittles the horrific trauma of losing your hair because of the cancer treatment. And it also seems like attention seeking . I know people may be doing it for the best intentions but i hate it.

Original poster
VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 05/08/2017 17:31

Really good point about the belittling. I think it's the attention seeking result that is irking me most.

Best wishes to those dealing with cancer or having been through it.

OP posts:
MuddlingMackem · 05/08/2017 17:35

Just shaving your head seems a bit pointless. The only time I've seen it done, the people getting shaved for Macmillan first had their hair cut for the Little Princess Trust, and buckets were passed around the audience for people to donate or not as they wished.

x2boys · 05/08/2017 17:40

Regarding the ice bucket challenge i know several other charities that jumped on it too not as publically as Macmillan but some certainly benefited from it.

Onthehighseas · 05/08/2017 17:42

Arsenic - you have summarised exactly why I feel so uncomfortable about this campaign. I'd tried to explain to DH what was wrong about it but couldnt articulate it very well. I've not had cancer, but my best friend has, and the head shaving seems to belittle the awfulness of having your hair drop out due to chemo.

PoorYorick · 05/08/2017 17:43

I cut off my waist length ponytail for the Little Princess Trust and I hope my hair went towards making wigs (it fitted the criteria but they can't guarantee it). I don't know why, but I feel differently about an actual head shave for cancer patients. Maybe it's just that I am too vain to shave my head, though a short cut was ok.

Crumbs1 · 05/08/2017 17:47

I used to raise a lot for Macmillan as they do provide all sorts of valuable support over and above nurses. However, I have contacted them expressing disbelief and anger that a charity for people with cancer would use head shaving as a fundraiser scheme. It's been going on a few years and Macmillan refuse to consider the significant voice of many people with cancer who find this at best insensitive.

Losing your hair isn't nice. Sitting for six hours at a time with your head in a crash helmet at -4 degrees isn't nice. Why would anyone think it was acceptable to belittle this experience by 'having a laugh' and getting your head shaved at the local pub? The last thing I'd find supportive is strangers or family members choosing to shave their heads when I was trying desperately to pretend this wasn't happening to me.

A dreadful campaign that is truly inconsiderate of those they are purporting to support.

OatsLocated · 05/08/2017 17:51

I think you'd be better off donating money to a local hospice.

For the amount of money Macmillan collect, they don't actually seem to do a great deal. They don't run any hospices from what I understand - unlike Marie Curie - and the nurses they train then go on to be employed by the NHS after a couple of years. Marie Curie employ nurses directly who will go into people's homes to provide care.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Macmillan are just a scheme to provide employment for the people who run it, but actually don't do much at all for actual patients and their families.

Shaving your head is just a ridiculous idea, but it's probably popular and brings that all important money in.

Mumthedogsbeensick · 05/08/2017 18:02

Completely agree with pp. I lost my hair during chemotherapy for Hodgkins Lymphoma and personally found it very hard to deal with along with having such a serious illness. I didn't cry when I was told I had cancer but cried when they told me I would lose my hair because I didn't want to look like an ill person! I get so angry and upset when I see the adverts and the people taking part being described as 'heroes'. We are the bloody heroes, the people that don't/didn't have a choice. Maybe they should shave off their eyebrows and pluck out their eyelashes too if they want to 'brave the shave' I would much rather they donated blood or bone marrow if they want to help or did something fun to raise money.