Heal (a few people in) the world
More scary stuff last night. I’ve realised that any night it’s going to be a big crowd, I can’t afford to risk leaving the blog till after the show. It only takes a few extra book sales to push us alarmingly close to the midnight deadline. And even then it’s a case of laboriously tapping it out on my phone and hoping it isn’t swallowed up. It’s never ideal to leave it that late in the first place, of course, but the way things have been recently, I’ve had no choice. Still. Today I’m on it.
And today I need your help.
You might remember a while ago, I was musing on the difficulty of finding a charity to back with your hard-earned money, when there are so many of the bloody things and all of them are on at you the whole time and all are equally worthy.
Well, now I’m running a half-marathon, in Bristol. Yep. It’s 13 and a bit miles. I’ve done a fair bit of running in my time, but never run a proper actual race. And I’ve been terribly out of practice what with Kit coming along, and me enjoying alcohol, and being cowed by Key and Minchin, two of my best friends, running an average of about eight marathons a day. But now all these considerations are being put to one side and I am in training. Today, Key and I ran a handsome 16km. My legs hurt a tiny bit but not too much. I didn’t collapse. I think I can maybe do this. Or maybe not. So from a sponsorship point of view, it’s perfect – you’ll look generous and you MIGHT not even have to pay out.
Which brings us to the meat of it. I am doing it for this charity: http://www.themoldovaproject.com/
It was set up my sisters (I mentioned this before) a couple of years ago, when they were still at school, with the aim of getting money directly to extremely poor families in Moldova, which is one of the shittest places in former communist Eastern Europe. I sponsor a family for thirty quid a month, alongside my new Senegal commitments, and it’s very rewarding to hear they’re making improvements to their house, buying better food, generally having a less bad life. Now I’m running this race in the hope of throwing more money in the direction of some deserving and pretty much destitute (and, in some cases, ill) people. My sisters and brother are also running, making it a four-way Watson campaign. Pretty cool.
BUT. Because it’s relatively new and run by amateurs (my sisters), the Moldova Project doesn’t yet have a charity number – even though it is perfectly proper and genuinely-for-poor-people and so on – and so on it can’t have a Justgiving account, which is how people normally collect sponsorship. So, I am polling your opinion on what is the best way for me to collect lots of money through online sponsors.
Is there some thing like Justgiving I can do, or can someone set up an online thing for me, or…? I don’t quite know what I’m after here, I just want to be able to ask my kind blog readers and Twitter followers and so on to dip into their pockets. Some – I’m well aware – have nothing at all in those pockets. But some will have a bit and I’d like to be able to do it as painlessly as possible.
So, I’d be grateful for your suggestions. And I will keep you up to date with my preparations for this horrifying run, which occurs on September 5. Although not technically one of my TYSICs, a half-marathon is the kind of thing I’ve always felt I ought to do, and it will boost my self-respect considerably if I manage it, and that’s what we’re all about. And actually, the incentive of this run has successfully deterred me from getting pissed during the normally bibulous month of August so far. So it’s not just about charity. Everyone wins.
I await your guidance.
Posted by Heather on August 17, 2010
I’ll add my voice to the chorus of people suggesting PayPal. The reason I got a PayPal account in the first place was so that I could donate to somebody who was running a marathon for charity, so I can say definitively that other people have used it in this exact situation. I don’t know if it’s a long process to get them to waive the fees, though.
I’m very glad to hear that Kit is feeling better! And I will try not to take too long if I do manage to have books for you to sign. I ordered your older books off amazon and I’m paranoid they won’t get here in time, but I suppose if they don’t it’s just more reason to come back next year!
Posted by Kathryn on August 17, 2010
(late post, sorry)
I just got back from Kosovo, another contender for the shittest place in Eastern Europe, so I would definitely be up for donating/sponsoring if you have found a way to sort out payment. Of course if you have sorted it out I don’t know at this point as I’m reading blogs I missed in chronological order.
Posted by James on August 15, 2010
16km is a great distance to run! Definatley worth blagging running the other 7k on the day. Would sponsor but a little short. Make sure to load up on pasta the night before.
Posted by Megan on August 15, 2010
I’m doing a half-marathon next month too, but haven’t been training much. This is very bad. (I did one in May too). My emotions were all over the place in doing it and I only made it to the end (again, I didn’t train well) because of the hundreds of people lining the end of the route and the dozens of wee children giving out high-fives. I think you’re in much better shape for your race.
(I’m supposed to be running 12+km today, but the weather has prevented that. Sometimes I do fear lightning!)
As for charity suggestions, I wish I could help, but I haven’t a clue how the system works in the U.K. Sorry.
Posted by Suzanne on August 15, 2010
OK … I posted my comment THEN looked at the website and now know the half marathon is on 5 September!!! Wow, that’s pretty soon … so probably not enough time to register the charity … Next time, eh??? Anyway, good luck with the training and the event … AND the fundraising …
Posted by Suzanne on August 15, 2010
Hi – good luck with the Half Marathon … when is it?
How about getting your sisters to register the charity? It’s easy to do … and would raise even more funds by being eligible for Just Giving …
Pleased to hear Kit’s on the mend … having a sick child is SO scary. I may have to drink to his good health this evening … of course I’d ask you to stand and join me in a toast to KIT!!! BUT I know you’re in training so won’t tempt you … hard luck!!!
MUST also say that I was very pleased to receive my pre-ordered “Eleven” and LOVED it … Mind you I might have to sue you for lose of time … I read it in two and a tiny bit sessions … I’m usually a chapter-or-few-at-a-time-reader over a couple of weeks … x
Posted by Rachael on August 15, 2010
Is that an average of 8 marathons a day between Key and Minchin or each? No wait, either way it is impressive.
It seems that you need a charity number to use the virginmoneygiving site too, I can’t seem to find any others though so Paypal may be the way forward.
Posted by misha on August 15, 2010
maybe you could set up a paypal donate system? would link but on my phone. also apologies for lack of caps. its 5 am.
Posted by Madeleine on August 15, 2010
16 km!? That’s really far. The most I ever run is 9 and then I have to have 3 days of complete immobility to recover. So I think your legs hurting “a bit” is pretty respectable.
Hope you’re not to jetlagged, you’re going to be in Brisbane the day before for the Writers festival right?
Good luck with getting the sponsorship thing up and running (I have no clue how). I’ll definatly try and shake some money out of somewhere to contribute.
Posted by Anji on August 14, 2010
No idea on the sponsorship side of things but on the cheering on of running side if things… I will more than likely be in Bristol cheering on my oh’s brother who is running as well. I can spare a cheer for the Watson crew as well! If you can wear something distinctive that would help! But cheer non the less I will!
Posted by Heather Jones on August 14, 2010
Hi Mark – just back from my holiday – in Dorset, nothing exotic – but it did include my getting to read this rather interesting novel ‘Eleven’, by some bloke..er…whatsisname, thingymajig….well, anyway – bloody good book: you should definitely read it, Mark, if you haven’t already
I have also been reading your blog pretty much daily while away, but was unable to comment on any of them. So, this is mainly just to say ‘hello again’, as I don’t have anything useful to suggest on the online sponsorship money collecting issue. Sorry. But however you do manage to set it up, I’ll be happy to dip into a pocket to support your efforts. Remind me – what’s the date you’re doing the half marathon in Bristol??
Oh, and I’m so glad to hear Kit is perking up again and that his recent stay in hospital was relatively brief.
Posted by LisaD on August 14, 2010
Being more familiar with the US side of things I can’t offer much to the conversation, but I do have some experience with Paypal from when my teeny little theater company. We we’re an official charity at the time, but we were listed as intending to be one (long boring description of the difference skipped to save time and spare readers). That was good enough for Paypal and so when we built our website they waived our fee (kept the one for our customers I’m afraid, but what they hey our customers weren’t a charity). So it’s totally doable, but I’m not sure if time will be on your side in terms of getting Paypal to agree before the date of the marathon.
Posted by Bloomability on August 14, 2010
Maybe you could have an eBay auction of a few small things, so people are basically donating to charity? It sounds like an amazing cause
Posted by Chris Jones on August 14, 2010
There’s also Virgin Money Giving, but I suspect that will need a charity number as well. Have you considered ringing Just Giving or VMG to see if there is anyway around this issue?
Posted by A lot of Rach[a]els on August 14, 2010
I was going to suggest paypal but that’s the limit to my knowledge in this area.
however you work out how to get sponsorships I will definitely dip into my pocket.
Posted by Aislinn on August 14, 2010
I will most definitely do some sponsoring, via PayPal/JustGiving/whatever. Unfortunately, MNDA are a registered charity and on JustGiving, so it was easy enough for my sponsored walk and I don’t really have any helpful advice. As per usual. I’m sure you’ll raise loads, though, and do the run successfully; good luck!
Posted by Laurs on August 14, 2010
I’ve had a quick look online for alternatives to Justgiving, and it didn’t turn up anything decisive… However, Paypal would probably seem like a sensible suggestion.
Looking forward to hearing more details about how and when I can donate. x
Posted by Jamie/James on August 14, 2010
Awesome! If you want anyone to do some charity collecting type-stuff in Edinburgh, my brother’s working full time during the week so have some time in-between seeing shows etc. Plus I forgot my Hang-drum for busking so it can keep me busy!
Also, I might have found you a narrowboat. Not for free though. Let me know the further details, etc. I think my twitter will be linked. Glad Kit’s better. x
Posted by MusicalLottie on August 14, 2010
I think PayPal might be the simplest option. On occasion a fee is charged but there are ways around it; further investigation on their website will reveal said occasions and ways, I’m sure.
[In the photos on the Moldova Project website the family resemblance is quite striking, by the way. Your sisters have your eyes and to some extent your smile. I'm not a stalker, I just notice things!]
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on August 14, 2010
If the charity has its own bank account and email address it can run a Paypal account really easily, like Paul does for Pohnpei donations, and you could just check the account balance to keep track of your total. I know everyone doesn’t have a Paypal account it might be a good way to start.
Good luck with the training and the running and that. If you need and physiotherapy advice, I’m here! X
Posted by MusicalLottie on August 14, 2010
Yay, a longer blog! Tonight ought to be stress-free then – relatively speaking, anyway