I wrote a very small piece that was published in the G2 section of The Guardian today in response to this article - which was originally a lot harsher about the whole subject of sponsoring and using the website justgiving.com. My piece didn't make it to the online edition of The Guardian so I thought I'd reprint it here :
"I was lucky enough to get a ballot place in this year’s London
Marathon. But initially more daunting than the thought of the race was
the prospect of asking people to sponsor me. I felt awkward sending
out my round-robin email, so I asked people to sponsor me for £5. If
they wanted to give more, they could (but no one need know: Justgiving
has a setting option to make donations anonymous). Rather than
embarrassing I have found the whole experience life-affirming. I’ve
been amazed by the benevolence of neighbours, delighted to reconnect
with old pals and tickled by friends mocking my athletic prowess. One
thing I would say is that if you don’t want to sponsor someone, just
don’t reply to their email. It’s worse to explain why you’re not going
to sponsor them. Overall, the experience has confirmed my core beliefs
that a) people are kind and b) the thought of a fat bloke running 26.2
miles is utterly hillarious.
Johnny Dee is running for Whizz-Kidz"
2 comments:
Well done on completing the Marathon. I sponsored you randomly after I saw a tweet from Graham Linehan! I wonder how many others did? Anyway, well done, I can just about walk 26 yards I am so lazy so the fact that you ran 26 miles is very impressive!
Two is the answer and I am very grateful to you and to lovely Graham.
I'm lazy too. It was only the fella with the Cornish Pastie on the end of a stick running two feet in front of me that kept me going.
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