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@carson
has anyone been on ryan air flights when they go on and on about their scratch cards where some of the purchase price goes to children's charities?
i'm perhaps a little cynical but i don't think the primary motivation of those selling and buying these scratch cards is to help children's charities. That particular enterprise stikes me as self-interest dressed up as selflessness. As do requests for sponsorship such as this one.
What's the OP's primary motivation? To help african children or to participate in a fun and challenging event? Charities aren't stupid - they know that most people won't give much of their time or money for nothing, so the charities give them something in return...and so you get these mass-participation events billed as personal challenges or experiences.
i'm not saying charities shouldn't be as clever as they can to raise money - by all means they must do what they need to do. i just find people parading themselves as charitable fundraisers when in reality they have simply bought into the idea of whatever event / experience / challenge the charity have sold them a little distasteful.
maybe the op is different. but to me the morality of all this is a little skewed and perhaps conflicted. there's nothing wrong with that - i am as morally ambivalent and conflicted as everyone else - it perhaps ought to be recognised that's all.