She wants to know if people in other countries have walk-a-thons, jump rope for heart, 10K races, the Muscular Dystrophy Telethons and Carnivals, and March of Dimes to fund research to cure diseases. If you don’t, what do you do to raise funds for the people in your country who are researching these and other diseases?
We’ve got a government that collects taxes and uses them among other things to fund research.
So we need a lot less walk-a-thons and so on. Not that we don’t have these at all. Research can always use more money.
A young lad in West London, England just raised a rather hefty amount for Haiti relief by riding his bicycle. his goal was £500, but he only raised about £72,000 so far. Worthless kid if ya ask me.
My local Pagan Federation Area Representative is doing a Sponsored Run in aid of Cancer Research. She does not have the figure of a runner, and I think she would admit this herself. I’ve sponsored her, but I would quite like to see her run… 
Back in the day (when I had more of the figure of a runner) I ran the Wycombe Half-Marathon. I was juggling all the way. We raised some money for the Wycombe Talking Newspaper.
Telethons are thin on the ground in the UK, although we do have Red-Nose Day and the Children-in-Need appeal. I’m not that uncharitable, but they mainly make me want to switch off the TV and do something else…
Our HR department at work (based in Birmingham) are forever sending us (based in Buckinghamshire) appeals for Pink Ribbon Days, and collecting-tins for Haiti. This last tin has been re-labelled “Sonia’s Swear Box” with the explanation “at least that way it will get some money in it”. It would be less irritating if the HR department were competent in other respects. We look upon them as a bunch of Trustifarians, whose main experience is in fund-raising. Keeping track of who has actually left, and not trying to chase them for expenses reciepts, they are less good at. One character managed to submit a few thousand pounds worth of expenses after he had left the firm. There’s charity, if you like.
All of the above operate in Canada. or rather have Canadian-registered branches. Unless the org is explicit about overseas operations (like Oxfam or a Haiti relief fund) the money raised here is usually spent here; the Heart and Stroke foundation funds research in Canada, for instance.
My missus and daughter raised dosh for breast cancer research by partaking in an annual fun-run. We know all about breast cancer on both sides of my family. I’m with Lucas and I want countries to give dough. I’m bloody sick of my country maintaining a super-expensive “independent nuclear deterrent” (which doesn’t deter anyone from anything and isn’t independent because the US says we have to have it). What a waste of money. The eejit politicians who argue for it usually, in another context, like to tell us what devout Christians they are. Yeah. I reckon the best thing is to do your research and then give some of your dough. Jesus would love you for that. No big show. Not all your dough but a tad more than the amount that simply eases yer conscience. Make it hurt just a bit. Just make sure that your dough isn’t going mostly into admin or some corrupt bugger’s pocket. ShelterBox is a great charity based in Cornwall. For less than £500 they can put together, in a big box, a kit that provides a huge tent big enough for ten people, some bedding and some other basic survival gear.
At the heart of every ShelterBox is a ten-person tent. It is custom made for ShelterBox by Vango, one of the world’s leading tent manufacturers, and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, high winds and heavy rainfall. Internally, each tent has privacy partitions that allow recipients to divide the space as they see fit.
A smile
Every box contains a children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons and pens. For children who have lost most, if not all,their possessions, these small gifts are treasured.Warmth and protection
In addition to the tent, the boxes contain a range of other survival equipment including thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, essential in areas where temperatures plummet at nightfall. Where malaria is prevalent mosquito nets are supplied, as well a life saving means of water purification. Water supplies often become contaminated after a major disaster, as infrastructure and sanitation systems are destroyed, this presents a secondary but no less dangerous threat to survivors than the initial disaster itself.Self sufficiency
A basic tool kit containing a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters can be found in every box. These items enable people to improve their immediate environment, by chopping firewood or digging a latrine, for example. Then, when it is possible, to start repairing or rebuilding the home they were forced to leave.Fit for purpose
Every item is durable, practical and brand new. The box itself is lightweight and waterproof and has been used for a variety of purposes in the past - from water and food storage containers to a cot for a newly born baby.A heart to the home
A key piece in every box is either a wood burning or multi-fuel stove - that can burn anything from diesel to old paint. This provides the heart of the new home where water is boiled, food is cooked and families congregate. In addition, there are pans, utensils, bowls, mugs and water storage containers.
I’m not saying if I support 'em with my dough. My left hand don’t know what my right hand doeth. Or, I don’t know my arse from my elbow. You decide.
How do you fund research that your government isn’t interested in?
An arm’s length committee of peers hands out the actual grants.
And how do you fund charities that people aren’t interested in? Or give less money to because of the recession? That’s numero uno on my list “reasons I don’t like the idea of charities.”
You seem to think that the government is something other than your fellow citizens working cooperatively. “Government” isn’t some alien beast. To quote the immortal Walt Kelly, They is us!
You folks fought a whole war about that, in fact.
Yeah, we did. But the Nuclear Power Lobby won.
In Germany, we all have health-insurance that covers everything for everyone, so all that heart&cancer charity is useless here. School and universities as well are almost entirely financed by taxes, so no need for foundraising either.
Charity does happen here too, though!
Last year’s winter, e.g., we had a local charity-run for poor people in the US who weren’t able to pay heating for their house due to risen costs for energy.
And, of course, there’s a lot of charity happening for Haiti at the moment.
Also, we do have charity-projects for research in very rare diseases - since the Gov - i.e. our people’s elected representatives - does give subventions for research to the pharmaceutic industry, but the industry doesn’t use it for research of diseases so rare they can’t make money on them… If the Gov would give those subventions under the condition to research only those diseases they wouldn’t research otherwise, they’d shout: “Socialism! We move our jobs and money to more liberal countries!” Just as usual: They take the money of the public, but won’t accept to work with it for the common good…