to be p***** off with my sister for not sponsoring my race for life because...

[mousemole]

I quote -

''I don't sponsor cancer fundraising events as the raised money generally goes to drug companies and I can't be doing with it ''

WTF is she on about ?????

Actually, the money does not go to drug companies. Much of the research that is funded by these events is carried out in universities by fairly lowly paid but dedicated scientists (like my DH)

Cancer Research UK is the largest and wealthiest charity in Europe so I tend not to support them either. I also really dislike the way they've used the 'sisterhood bollocks' to arrange women only events. Around about the same number of people in the UK get dementia as cancer 700,000 - not that you'd know given that while everyone with cancer is classed as 'brave' those with dementia tend to be regarded as repellant and shut away out of sight. However for every £280 spent researching cancer only £11 is spent on dementia, even though care costs the NHS the same as for cancer, heart disease and stroke combined. Sadly the disease is still taboo, just like cancer used to be, maybe that will change if rates of it really do double in the next decade. And it doesn't just affect the old, my DH's dad was diagnosed in his 50s. Not nice.

I think your sister could have been less blunt, and what she says is not quite correct, but I think it's fine for people to say no to sponsor requests. Like Nemofish, I wouldn't support a charity that involves animal experimentation, but I would offer to give money to an alternative research charity that doesn't use animals.

My sis was the same when I did it one year. I fully supported her decision.

YABU - are you my sister?

I wouldn't sponsor anyone for race for life. A 5k run is not worth sponsoring in my view.

I rarely sponsor anyway, at work I get asked all the time. I am not going to fun someone's holiday riding a bike through Cuba for some charity. I have however sponosred some workmates to do the 3 peaks challenge to raise money for a local Bristol charity for children with mental disorders.

I tend to support local charities, and ones which are less 'attractive', such as the Gloucester domestic violence project, and the local homeless charity, and poverty action group. Not charities which have multi million pound marketing campaigns.

Plus (sorry you are going to flame me) there is somthing irredeemably naff about women in pink doing aerobics and then running 3 miles.

Thanks for the figures, Poppet45. I know there are many 'good causes' but find that even in difficult times the best funded can find a major salary for their fund raising staff and employ big media firms for publicity, so it's a case of those with more, getting more.

There are also those charities which aim to get wills written in their favour irrespective of whether there are members of a person's family who really are in dire straits, and then the family might have to challenge a will in court to get anything. Charities should be accepting of what they get as donations without adding pressure and using pushy tactics to get more.

[NB Not a downer on Cancer Research UK {unless the cap fits} ]

I repeat- I am doing 10k not 5k, at 36 weeks pregnant, but agree with the pink aerobics. I shall try and stay well clear of that bit.

I'm not in a position to judge if that's sensible at 36 weeks. When I read it first time I thought "hope that she the weather suits and she doesn't faint, or fall".

Can only wish you good luck at this time.

It's anyone's prerogative which charities they donate to of course. But I think Cancer Research generally does a good thing. There's plenty on their website about the research into prevention as well as cure to prove that.

Disclaimer -despite the 'naffness' of women in pink doing aerobics and running a paltry three miles, I do it in memory of my sister-in-law whose life (and, more importantly, quality of said life) was prolonged by the research funded by charities/drug companies and find it darn moving. It's something positive you can do in the face of something ultimately hopeless ie a terminal disease.

But then I am a lardy arsed lazy type so three miles is a big effort for me

Radster I completely agree with you. I had to insist that they take me off their list and stop calling me, it really felt like being hassled.

In case your maths is rusty, 8 km is 5 miles and the OP is running 10 km, but been doing training runs of 5 km.

Respect from me (I need to lose 3+ stone).

I am running it, I am running it to honor my wonderful brave sister who is on her 3rd round of Chemo, my aunt who is in remission and my cousin who went through hell and came out the other side, I am running it in memory of friends lost.

I don't care where the money goes as long as it helps,