As I lay next to my unwell daughter this morning, cradling her comfortingly in my arms, I was unable to access computer, iPad or phone, so I didn’t post anything new, and when I did check, I just about checked notifications…
But I had lots of time to think (in between the “Mummy! I’m not feeling well!” cries, and cuddles required!) and one thing I thought about was the amazing event that was Comic Relief, last night. They raised £78,082,988 so far, which is amazing!
Lenny Henry, one of the founders!
Across the country, people geared up, fundraising, and getting their noses, t-shirts and things, and on the day, as well as now, you could text to donate. The charity helps countless cases across the UK and in Africa, and has been going since 1985.
A most worthy cause, and even in the face of the recessions we have had over the last few years, the public have given generously, to this charity, as well as many other causes. See, humanity does exist! We do care, deep down, and having fun while doing it is a great thing! The comedy aspect of Comic Relief appeals to all age groups.
At school the kids love to see their teachers dressed up or wearing the gear to show our support. We encouraged the children to wear something red and donate a Pound for the charity. There were also Red Noses available to buy as well in school.
But.. Alas! Alack! Come Wednesday, when my class had a group of at least 6 who were patiently waiting for the school councillors to come round so they could buy a nose, we found out that we had RUN OUT!!!!!
Obviously the school has to order these noses in, and from previous years demand, an amount was decided upon, as there have been times when we have had much left over, but we obviously miscalculated this time!
Cue many disappointed little faces, and the ones staring at me were the littlest in the school, so it is heart wrenching to see them disappointed… We had to return the money and direct their parents to the nearest Sainsbury’s Supermarket to buy one, so they could join in with the others who had been lucky enough to get a nose.
All well and good, you say, but it’s not that easy… in days of old, and correct me if I am wrong here fellow UK residents, you could get your Red Nose for charity at a wide variety of shops, not have to travel the length and breadth of your town or city to find one in a specific store. Now I had already decided that I would get a few bits and bobs, so was prepared to make the extra car journey to Sainsbury’s which is a bit out of my way, but not everyone has the luxury of a car, or they have young children so a bus ride might seem like fun, but it can be hell, especially when it’s for ONE thing!
We bought the Deely Boppers, and noses, I even got a coat pin, and my Red Nose Day nail wraps. the next day Lil Princess managed to rip her red nose and was devastated. And we had run out at school, so guess what… Another trip to Sainsbury’s. and I came out with more noses and another set of Deely Boppers for me too! I had actually wanted a t-shirt, and knew in previous years, you could get them there too, but no, not this year. If you wanted clothing, then aside from ordering from the official website, you had to go to Matalan, a clothing store, the nearest of which was in the next town…Nope, I draw the line at travelling cross-country for one item! I had a red top, that was fine!
So in total, I had spent £15 on these items, and, as the website says, 100% of the money raised from these items goes to the charity, it’s the sponsors who pay for the advertising, and salaries of people etc. but the time it took, and the petrol consumed just to get to the right shop, surely there could have been even more money that I could have theoretically donated!
There are people who are not lucky enough to have a shop nearby so it would be an extra trip to get these items so they, or their children could take part. One little boy was in tears on Friday morning, as he hadn’t got a nose, and we could only apologise and suggest to mum that she popped to Sainsbury’s, got one and dropped it off for him, but she had the transport problem… I would willingly have given him mine, but there were others who didn’t have theirs and thought they were not upset then, had I done that, they would have definitely cried then, as they would want one to magically appear for them too.
I only wish I had known earlier, as I would have bought some extra for them to buy from me for their charity donation…
Which brings me to my post title… why is it that the items are so hard to come across nowadays? if you put the totals of the money spent on them, it is staggering, but figure in the extra effort and fuel costs people might have made, and think of how much more could have been donated, had these items been available in all stores, or at least all major shops…
Does this make sense to you all? Or was I just musing too much as I lay with my daughter on her sick-bed.. (By the way, she is much better, thanks for the good wishes, those who gave them!)
But I Smile Anyway... 