Children in Need day

I suppose like lots of the famous and rich they want something for their money and it looks good too. Some of them have that much money they don't know how to spend it all and doing this makes it something they could never buy and if they are willing to give this enormous amount of money to a charitable cause I just think of all the children it will benefit and what a great difference it will make to their lives and the considerable pleasure it will bring to them. I can see where you are coming from too Sidesalad but I know some of them do give to charities too and wouldn't want to stop them contributing to this one.

I do empathise with what you're saying here, Sidesalad, I always find these celebrity charity dinners distasteful, when people pay extortionate amounts for huge sumptuous dinners made by celebrity chefs with the proceeds going to help the starving!

If you can afford it and in doing so gain some kudos and more importantly help a charity then let it happen.

These 'events' are given free by promoters and make huge sums of money for worthwhile causes. As an incentive to get these already wealthy people to part with their money then I see nothing distasteful about it. It is a basic marketing initiative - offer something that 'money can't buy' and sit back and watch the money roll in.

The UK public are a generous sort when appeals are made and should be rightly proud of their ability to dig deep in difficult times.

What I do object to is the rich telling us to dig deep and to constantly delve into our bottomless pits.
But it's a practice that seems to work as this nation is widely known for it's benevolence.
Do you recall Bob Geldof shouting at us to "send us your f...ing money"? Again an eminently worthy cause but I personally didn't like his approach.
I do subscribe to a charity and hubby subscribes annually a days pay (as do most of the company he works for) to a central charitable fund and we leave it at that.

Thanks for your responses. It seems that in general you disagree with they way I feel about this particular part of the fundraising. Thinking about this further, I suppose that this very showy way of giving (or buying as it is actually) is counter to the way in which I was bought up to believe that charitable giving should be done, that is quietly and without looking for reward or thanks. Some people who have little money but who give a couple of pounds may be discouraged, but these are the very people who are acting in a truly charitable way.

We like to give to the charities we think need the money and must say it is mostly animals such as R.S.P.C.A., Blue Cross, P.D.S.A. and R.S.P.B.
We have also just finished sponsoring a dog for the blind and have some beautiful photos of our "puppy". We shall probably do another next year which then lasts for 16 months. We are also buying cat and dog food every fortnight towards our donation for the R.S.P.C.A. and fill the Jeep up with all sorts for the dogs and cats who no one wants. This is our personal way of helping but also when it's a charity for children we shall like millions of others donate some tonight. We also pay a monthly donation to the hospital that has treated my husband and this is to help other people who need anything at the hospital. Anyone shaking a box gets a donation and every charity shop gets one too so I don't think we can do any more at the moment unless we win the lottery.