To despair at charity fundraiser organisers (macmillan in this case)

[Goodgrief82]

The latest Macmillan charity big event is a hike.

brilliant idea. Inclusive and encouraging being outdoor and getting active

but then they go an ruin it by making a big song and dance in radio adverts and mention in marketing about the glass of bubbly that awaits you at the finishing line.

So… ignoring link between alcohol and cancer; no longer entirely “inclusive” as this “treat” alienates children and those with drinking problems; could possibly even lead to someone trying to avoid alcohol to think “sod it I deserve a drink after that hike” and in no shape or form is alcohol healthy or indeed hydrated you after exercise

sometimes I feel like banging together these charity paid fundraiser marketing teams and just say “THINK FGS”

No one is going to say oooh I will sign up for that because you get bubbly at the end.

One glass is in keeping with that advice. They said drink less, not none at all

Yes! Why is there this pissed = interesting/fun/charismatic trope?
Apparently nothing more boring than someone who doesn’t get rat-arsed at every opportunity!

Speaking as someone who worked in charity marketing for years - these things are tested and convert better. It’s that simple.

So? It's a glass of Prosecco, not free shots of Sambuca for the rest of the day?

When I was on chemo, the Dr said it was fine to have the odd drink to keep a sense of normality, if I felt like it. Which I did, at certain points.

If you get 'rat-arsed' after one glass of champgne that's your problem. Most adults can function perfectly well after just one glass and are able to enjoy it for the taste alone.

There's snacks and drinks along the way

There's a free t shirt
There's food at the end
There's a medal
There's an optional glass of 'bubbly'.... which could be ANYTHING!!

A lot of people in the UK will hike the coast and stop at a pub for a beer and cheese sandwich. If it was a marathon you’d be right but this seems fine to me.

The charity itself, wonderful

the paid marketing department for this fundraiser… less so

I clicked on that link, doesn’t say anything about a glass of champagne at the end. It does mention free food though!
If alcohol is offered you don’t have to take it. It’s probably just one glass and there will probably be an alcohol-free alternative.

They didn’t support us, they faffed around trying to get dh to go into a hospice which he said time and time again he didn’t want, supplied a hospital bed he wasn’t comfortable in and complained when we said he didn’t like it which meant he didn’t get to cuddle with me at night and I had to sleep on the floor for the last 10 days so he could still see me, didn’t help with pain management, tried to get dh to accept the gp who misdiagnosed his cancer as anxiety as his regular weekly gp visit and just seemed to be there to polish her halo. No practical help at all and I would’ve been better dealing with pal care directly not her.

Marie Curie sent an RGN who tried to use physical force to get dh to have an injection of something he didn’t want which macmillan backed up but dh had full capacity and as I work in healthcare I know they can’t do that. Luckily even right at the end he was strong and could fight her off, she just wanted him knocked out for the night so she could play on her phone. He feared carers incase they abused him and she abused him. I was too tired to make it official as I was up 19-20hrs a day caring for him. The carers offered to us couldn’t do drugs, rig feeds or trachys so were useless to us.

When macmillan rang the day after he died I put the phone down on her.

So no, they aren’t universally a source of comfort and practical help at a terrible time they’re an obstacle to patients getting help and actually an obstacle to be overcome.

It is odd. Alcohol is a drug (and a highly addictive one). Why would they be promoting it I have no idea! Maybe they were sponsored by the alcohol companies? Doesn’t seem ethical at all.

It's all about money... that's all

Sponsorships are a big part of that....who are the sponsors?

@Fluffycloudland77 I'm so sorry. That is awful.

It would put me off.
I drink, I like fizzy wine. But not hiking, not at that time of day and not if I’m driving home afterwards.
People can obviously do what they want, but it’s simply something from a marketing point of view that would put me off rather than draw me in. Isn’t that what the OP is getting at? Saying it’s shit marketing, not passing moral judgement. Just a comment from a practical point of view that it could be done better.

That sounds so hard. I hope you’ve had some support and care yourself since x

Don't be so ridiculous.

Thank you

exactly this

absolutely no moral judgement. I love champagne!

it was a point about the poor marketing department of this charity

'Bubbly' says 'celebration'

This is their way of saying completing this hike is something to celebrate.

What else should they say instead of bubbly then?

Medal and a bottle of mineral water?
Medal and a can of coke?
Medal and that's your lot

I am sorry about your experiences with this awful illness. But it’s a bit much to report it. It’s a reasonable debate: should a cancer charity be offering a drink that is implicated in cancer aetiology. It is not a thread designed to smear and ruin a charity.

It doesn’t actually say ‘alcoholic bubbly’. There are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives available

It's all a big conspiracy. You should alert the media!

Have you taken part in a MacMillan Hike? You criticise one element of what is an amazingly well run day. There’s orange juice at the end, endless amount of fruit available, water available along the route and pit stop/lunch food/finish line food specifically chosen to be suitable for those people doing long distance events. There’s medical assistance if needed and they cater for dietary requirements too. There’s amazing support from everyone taking part and the volunteers who run the event. If you’d walked over 26 miles, what is wrong about one tiny glass of something bubbly to celebrate such an amazing achievement if it’s what you wanted.
Hopefully this might encourage others to take part. Half marathons are an option too.

I want to know what the snack drinks and food consists of

Bet you can link some of it to cancer somehow

No I did a cancer research run

sure as heck no alcohol involvement and there was a real focus on being thoughtful to the environment so bubbly served no doubt in plastic cups would not have been conducive to that sensible approach