On the #IceBucketChallenge

So as a fundraiser I couldn't not comment on this....phenomenon.

First of all I am still so amazed at the virality of this campaign. I have never seen something spread so fast and so BIG! I've never seen so many celebrities from all backgrounds and across the world get involved in something of this size for charity. Children in Need and Comic Relief pale in comparison. Yes of course they can't be seen to "not" do it and it's all positive publicity but still. I've never had my newsfeed so completely filled with friends and contacts doing the same thing for charity.

I am so impressed with the charity it started for and the UK equivalent. A relativity unknown condition now has more awareness (and funds!) than they could have ever hoped for. And all unsolicitied, unbudgeted and unrestricted. It's the fundraiser's dream!

The fact that it was started and then grew organically by supporters really makes me smile. As much as my profession depends on us fundraisers needing to continually come up with different ways to engage our supporters, this campaign, like the #nomakeupselfie before it is proof that you can't ever plan for the best ideas.

Now....on the numerous other charities that are now promoting #Icebucketchallenge. This is such an interesting one for me. On the one hand you can't consider yourself a fundraiser if you are not maximising all opportunities that are presented to you, and you also can't choose what your supporters will do in support of you. However there is something about it actively promoting it that slightly unsettles me. It just seems a little unethical....but I can't completely explain why.

Because having said that, no fundraising idea is brand new. No charity can claim to be the only one to fundraise from marathons, cake sales, bike rides or quiz nights. As long as there are supporters for your cause they will fundraise in the way that suits them.

What makes me really happy are the people that are choosing to do #Icebucketchallenge for a charity of their choice. And what makes me even happier than THAT is the people who have donated to ALS Association or MND Association, and then also to their chosen charity. Recognising where the challenge came from and not "hijacking" but still supporting your charity.

However, and please listen carefully, I have so say....if you are going to donate - must you also dump a bucket of water over your head? Yes yes I know that's the "challenge" but you're not raising sponsorship to do this are you? Heck we'd all be broke if we were all being asked to sponsor each other! So if you're going to make a donation....why not just do it? Especially now the campaign is reaching it's peak. Do you really need a reason to donate to charity, if you want to truly change lives and make a difference - then do it. If you also want to do the ice challenge great, but don't feel pressured to do it. You will make just as much of a difference by simply sending your donation. Take the wonderful Sir Patrick Stewart for example :)

Somehow I've managed to avoid being nominated yet (she says too soon) but if I am, I will proudly donate to MND and then to another charity of my choice. And I'll do it in additional to my monthly contributions and without wasting litres of water.

Donate to ALS Association here

Donate to MND Association here or text ICED55 £5 (or other amount) to 70070.

PS. Since writing this, I have seen some comments on social media that apparently the reason why ice water is because for a brief moment you have the same sensation as someone living with MND. *If* that is correct and is the reason behind the challenge...that is amazing. Very rarely do you find truly fantastic fundraising campaigns that also relate back to the cause in a very real way.

Maybe I will dump the ice....maybe.

PPS. One final note to the people on social media who continually feel the need to insult, criticise or retract their support of a charity when they find out we spend money on fundraising. It's investment. No responsible charity will waste money on fundraising or marketing. For every £1 we are spending on fundraising we are likely making back at least £3. It is our duty to our beneficiaries to invest a small percentage of our income today to ensure we continue to have income tomorrow to help those who rely on us.

And on the subject of charities paying for Google advertising - most charities spend very little on this. Google offers a grant to most charities to allow them to target their advertising. And I promise you, it's still significantly more cost-effective and offers a higher return than taking out ads in the papers.

Just so ya know because all of this is one of my biggest bug-bears as a professional fundrasier! 

New job, new happies

Yes yes yes.....bad blogger. I know I know...

But I feel I have a very valid excuse. My new job has kept me crazy busy in the very best kind of way, and even though this means I get home in the evenings knackered it's the very best kind of "Yay I worked hard and am having fun at the same time" knackered.

So as it is the main thing occupying my life at the moment, here are a few things that I am loving about my new Managerial role.

1) I'm a Manager! I wanted to be a manager for so long, I've been so fortunate to learn from some amazing people in my sector and I've always wanted to the opportunity to push myself to that level. So now I'm here it's a little scary at times, but at the same time feels awesome!

2) My colleagues are amazing. Everyone in this office is so friendly, there is a great level of fun banter and giggles without any bitchiness or nastiness. My team are especially lovely, I felt settled and part of the team almost immediately.

3) I'm back in central London! Working out in deepest Essex with nothing but a Sainsburys, greasy spoon cafe and 10 dozen chicken shops was quite depressing. Now I have history, modern architecture, great food and more Starbucks's than I can count within spitting distance from my office. Only downside is keeping that bank balance in check!

4) We're social. We have cake for birthdays, leaving drinks, even a mini-"goodbye" and congratualtions before my manager went off to get married. It just makes the office a really nice place to work and somewhere you want to come to.

5) Softball! I have been in the charity sector for 7 years and never worked somewhere with a team in the league. We just joined this year and even though we got flattened by the most notorious team in the league in our first game, I still can't wait for the rest.

6) I get to see Mat dressed as a peapod (or possibly the goat in the future!) at events.....that ones totally self explanatory surely? :)

The Craziest thing I ever did

As many people know I work for a charity. I tend to not mention which one, as I would prefer to keep my professional life and my random blog ramblings separate  Mainly so that anything I say on here that may potentially cause offence or be contentious is not associated with my charity. 

So here is my major disclaimer: Nothing I say on this blog (or anywhere on the interwebs) is AT all reflective of my work, the charity I work for, or their opinions. Everything I say is 100% my own thoughts and opinions. 

Thank you. Now onto my blog post. 

My charity was very fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of a big skydiving event, honouring every fallen soldier who has sadly been lost in recent conflicts.

On Friday 14th me and my colleague went down to support our jumpers, make a big fuss, get the media involved etc etc. This is the part of my job that I really LOVE doing! I absolutely adore meeting our fundraisers and spending time with them, and thanking them for all their hard work.

So we get to the airfield and honestly, if I had £1 for every time I was asked "so are you jumping then?" ....well it would've made my fundraising alot easier for a start! As the day went on and I saw the jumpers transition from super nervous, to excited, to the biggest buzz when they landed I got thinking, "Yeah, this is something I would love to do!"

I had to psych myself up quite a bit. This is a girl that very rarely goes on roller-coasters - especially not ones with the big drops! But I chatted to quite a few of the instructors, listened to the safety briefing about a million times and thought "you'll be kicking yourself if you leave here without having done it." In the end it was a group of fundraisers, all jumping in memory of a family member that really inspired me.  

Once I committed to sign up I actually wasn't as scared as I expected to be. Normally waiting for something, the anticipation terrifies me and gets me worked up, but I was fine. To be honest I think I disassociated myself from it all a little bit!

And pride helped. After the intense wind ups and ribbing and goading me into doing it, there was no way I was backing out. I'd never live it down! Not that I really care what other people think in that way, but the show off in me likes to impress. I'm the same way when I do shots!

I have to say, the guy giving the safety briefings was brilliant. He joked that I must've already heard it all 3 times but I told him how much he was helping reassure me!

So the time came to get suited and booted, don the silly hat and get ready to skydive. Jeesh I didn't shut up, when I get nervous I talk EVEN more than I normally do. (first time I went on a roller coaster in Disneyland I talked the entire way through. Lorna thought that was hysterical!)

My instructor Cam was lovely - very calming - but I really loved my videographer Trev. The term wind up merchant has never been more aptly used than with him, but having a giggle helped me feel less nervous too.

The plane on the other hand...being in the plane wasn't the problem. I love flying, and sitting on the floor with everyone was very cosy, I could've stayed there all afternoon. But knowing what was coming...

Suddenly I shut up. Even Trev noticedt! I was in a weird place between thinking too much and trying not to think at all. I knew there was no point in being scared now - there was no backing out so I just had to muster that courage (and pride!) and go with it.

When that door opened and the first couple of people went I think I felt my face drain of blood! I remember saying (not that anyone heard me) "I just remembered...I don't like falling!" There's a great clip of my video of me shaking my head vigorously, like thus would make the blindest bit of difference.

Sitting (well hanging over the edge) I didn't look down - on instruction! I think this is a wise move lest survival instincts kick in! We were there for what felt like the briefest of second a before...woosh and you were out!

I screamed, on reflex, but similarly to being on a roller coaster, my voice was taken away and there was no noise. I vaguely remember being upside down, thinking "the grounds in the wrong place" but before I knew it, we were in freefall.

And....wow.

I honestly can't describe it. It's not like falling, like when you fall in a dream or something. It's not quite flying because you're still travelling down, although you're only vaguely aware of it. The only word I have is "amazing"

And I was very happy to scream that as loud as I could! I had warned the guys beforehand I was loud, and they simply smiled and said "be as loud as you want - no one will hear you over that wind" oh boy we're they wrong!

Trev said Im probably the only perso he's ever heard in freefall. Those are 120mph winds you can hear me over!

But it wasn't screams of fear. It was screams of pure euphoria. It was exhilarating and I can't imagine any other reaction than just yelling at full volume how much fun you're having!

And then the canopy goes up. You don't woosh right up - that's an illusion because you're camera man is still falling. You do go up a little bit but it's very different. And all of a sudden it all changes. It's almost deathly quiet and and the works is laid out beneath you.

Because if that I would love to do a skydive somewhere completely stunning one day; over the mountains of the ocean or something. The canary ride is much closer to flying as we imagine it, just because it's so peaceful. (although I did feel a little nauseous because if all the swaying. I'm so glad I told him "no tricks!" and that I hadn't eaten anything!)

Coming in for landing was great too. We were told in briefing this is potentially the most dangerous part and to get your legs up to allow your instructor to land you both. I thought it would be really bumpy but it was surprisingly graceful.

And then I was on such a high. I wanted to run and scream and high five and tell the world "did you see what I DID?!! I jumped out of a fricking plane!!!"

On the whole I definitely preferred the freefall. Weird, I didn't think that would be the case but it was just so amazing!

And although I say in my video "probably not ever again" I think I def would. Maybe it's like childbirth and you're mind just forgets all the bad stuff making you want to do it again!

Overall I truly believe it is something everyone should do once in their life. Because if I can do it...anyone can!

I didn't just do the jump for fun (well I did, but y'know!) I am also raising money for my fabulous charity. BLESMA - The Limbless Veterans and for me personally it is like a family. A family that can sometimes drive you crazy, but ultimately you feel honoured to be a part of. And I am aiming to raise at least £350 for this wonderful organisation.

I am VERY nearly there! And I would love any support you can offer. You can donate online by clicking this button or you can text SAZG50£2 to 70070 to donate £2 via text.

Anything you can give will be very gratefully received by BLESMA and if you drop me a message with your details I will very happily give you a shout out and a link to your own Blog/YouTube channel whathaveyou on my blog and twitter.

Thank you again!

Day 1 - About me

Egh, I never know what to right about these things. I'll write them as they occur to me I suppose

Full name: Sarah Louise Goddard
Hometown: London baby!
Occupation: Charity fundraiser, Events Organiser, right now temping in a Supporter Care Team at a very large international charity.
Pets: Mitchell the cat in the UK, Jasper the kitten in the States
Significant Other: My Snowflake, Codaniel who currently resides in the States. We met on a forum over  a love of Twilight.
My family: Mum, Lil' Sister Jess, my nan and my aunt. That's about it...we're a small group!
Fav music: Ugh I totally suck at these things cos my taste is so varied. Right off the top of my head: Blue October, Queen, Johnny Flynn, Mumford and Sons aaaaannnnnd... SenorGimp :) hehe!

Fav movies: Basically all the ones I loved from my childhood! Labyrinth, Princess Bride, Land before Time and nearly all the Disney films. Back to the Future trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean, Moulin Rouge, Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, Grease, Grease 2 - jeesh I could go on! :D


Fav books: I'm very disappointed that I dont read as much as I used to. But again heres a selection: Princess Bride, The Cat that came in from the cold, The time travellers wife, Narnia series, Harry Potter series, Twilight saga (although I dont know how much I could re-read it now though), Shakespeare, Animals of Farthing Wood, 1984, Animal Farm...that'll do for now!

Soooo I dont really know what else to say about me. I'm fairly savvy, intelligent enough, know my mind and how to speak it - but gaining the intelligence to know when, I'm pretty insightful and always enjoy being able to be there for someone else. I give a lot and will never begrudge it but it does sadden me when others then arnt there for me because I'll very rarely ask for help. I'm independent - more than capable of looking after myself (and anyone else that comes along to quote one of my fav characters!) but that doesnt mean I dont want to be taken care of.

I'm pretty upfront and honest so anything else you wanna know - just ask!

Pudsey ears!

Hello!


For those of you have forgotten - I'm Sarah, I write this blog...apparently.


Been absent for a while I know. Various reasons. But probably will be back now. Kinda.


Might go for a bit of an update with my photos and top banner, the idea was to update those regullarly - meh me is rubbish.


Anways onto random ramblings of the day.


Today is Children in Need. One of the two big telethons in the UK, raising money that then funds many much needed projects for many good causes around the country.


I'm such a bad fundraiser - I actually forgot it was today until I saw the Pudsey Bear at the station this morning! Pudsey Bear is the mascot. I'm actaully quite upset because he used to look like this

And now they've made him all computer generated. I dont like change! Especailly of beloved childhood characters!




Anyways. So tonight is a very long show, lots of appearences by celebrities etc. Doctor Who is normally a part of it, having a short 10 minute special. Of course it'll be stupid Matt bliming Smith not our beloved David Tennant though so I'm not excited about that.


I am very good at getting into the spirit though!


So if anyone needs me tonight you can find me being exceedingly lazy with a tub of Hagen Dazs and my telly. Ah - Bliss! :D