Race motivation

Peterx

In my own experience Joe or Mary Public will assume that any time they see anyone warming up for a race that person is doing it for charity. This constantly happens. Why are they so often right? When did charity take over?

I'm running for me, Ok!

Very very good and worthy charity focussed events get tarred with the same brush as those events whose only contribution to a charity is to have collection buckets at the finish line.

At this stage there is such a proliferation of charity events that the cynic in me presumes there are some chancers hitching a money-making ride off the back of worthy causes.
I would be much happier if any registered charity who lent their name to a race could insist that the percentage of the gross take they receive was published on the event website.

donothoponpop

"Charity" is all-too-often used as a marketing tool to generate profits for a private enterprise. There certainly needs to be a lot more clarity, or (as you say) genuine fundraisers will get lost under general cynicism. It's my experience that the races who are quietest about their charity element, often are the ones giving 100% of entry money to the charity, and the inverse applies also.

One of the (small) steps we can do to help things from Boards- any race directors who want to have their events listed in the Events forum, and mention "charity", are now questioned on what size donation/percentage of entry fee is actually going to that charity.

robinph

If you mention that your running a marathon to someone, they usually then ask what charity your doing it for, and then when you say "none, I'm just running it for me" they look at you as if your mad.

jeffontour

robinph wrote: »

they look at you as if your mad.

Or as if you're a selfish b^stard cos you're not hitting people up for charity...

shels4ever

jeffontour wrote: »

Or as if you're a selfish b^stard cos you're not hitting people up for charity...

I've been asked 3-4 times in the last couple of week to run the Dublin marathon for charity . At first I didnt feel bad about saying no. But starting to feel like a stingy at this point after refusing to run a 5k next friday for charity as I want to do a long run the next day.

By mistake when i registered for belfast i selected the charity option but then went out of my way to call them to say i wasnt going to be runnign for them.. Now that felt bad...

I do give directly to some charity but I run for myself....

bagus

Maybe a slightly off the original topic but....

A lot of the triathlon ireland events are not for charity. Fair enough. Pay the 50 euro (or so) and enjoy yourself. I do it regularly.

However, the Ring of Kerry cycle, the Stephen Roche cycle, and events like them are for charity. If you are taking part in these events without raising some money, then you are abusing them. It doesn't take much effort to raise more money than you are going to cost an event organizer. 100 euro is no huge ask i.m.o.

Stark

Peterx wrote: »

At this stage there is such a proliferation of charity events that the cynic in me presumes there are some chancers hitching a money-making ride off the back of worthy causes.

It's been known to happen. I've heard of races where the winners were promised their prize money cheques "in the post" and never received them and no money was transferred to the nominated charities either.

Peterx wrote:

In my own experience Joe or Mary Public will assume that any time they see anyone warming up for a race that person is doing it for charity. This constantly happens.

There seems to be an implication there that running is an unpleasant thing that you would only inflict on yourself in support of a cause. Non-runners generally don't seem to get the concept of running being enjoyable.

--amadeus--

bagus wrote: »

Maybe a slightly off the original topic but....

A lot of the triathlon ireland events are not for charity. Fair enough. Pay the 50 euro (or so) and enjoy yourself. I do it regularly.

However, the Ring of Kerry cycle, the Stephen Roche cycle, and events like them are for charity. If you are taking part in these events without raising some money, then you are abusing them. It doesn't take much effort to raise more money than you are going to cost an event organizer. 100 euro is no huge ask i.m.o.

STRONGLY disagree with you on that. Fair enough if you only do one event every year or so but there are people who race every weekend. And if an event is "for charity" then my assumption is that part of my entry fee goes to that charity. Nothing annoys me more than these "mud run" type events where it's x amount to enter with y donation (non-negotiable) on top.

HardyEustace

bagus wrote: »

100 euro is no huge ask i.m.o.

Maybe not to you but if you've lost your job, had a pay cut, had your hours reduced then it is.

ocnoc

+€50 for a race entry that is badly organised with too many people... I really don't get it.
Charity or not. Race organisers are out to make a few quid. Its there job. Their just lucky there are a lot of people are are willing to pay stupid money to run along a road.

Charity causes are all well and good but a race is a race. You race to win or to get across the line before the person to your left or right. Not to raise money. Someone who is out training in all weather isn't going to "race" to give 50 quid to charity.

RayCun

If a race is "for charity", then that should mean that some of your entry fee is going to charity. (a clearly defined portion would be good)

Not that you pay your entry fee and are obliged to raise more.
Not that the organisers send out a sponsorship form and that is the 'for charity' bit.

hunnymonster

ocnoc wrote: »

Race organisers are out to make a few quid. Its there job.

I've never made a cent from any of the races I have organised. It's something I/we do to give something back to the sport we love not to make money.

GoHardOrGoHome

I emailed the contact details of a "for charity" race to see what the situation was. Was 30% of the entry fee going to charity? Was 10 euro of each entry fee going to charity? Was a flat donation of 5000 euro going to the charity?

Charities should insist that if their name is being used to sell a race then the details whatever they might be should be published and punters can decide whether it's worth it or not.

The charity replied to me and said that "it would not be fair to this third party to give out information on the % that we will be making". Really? Why not?!

I didn't run this novelty event because of the secrecy. I take part in lots of races: non-profit (non-charity); for-profit (I don't know why that's a dirty word); and the hybrid charity/private races. It's these last ones that I have the problem with.

Should we put pressure on the charities to insist they give details of what the arrangement is and name and shame the ones which don't?

bagus

HardyEustace wrote: »

Maybe not to you but if you've lost your job, had a pay cut, had your hours reduced then it is.

I agree 100% if you are footing the bill yourself.

I also think that the pretty standard 50 euro entry for a tri events is too steep. Especially with the terms and conditions involved...sign up months in advance and if your injured and can't compete then tough luck. This has cost me a lot over the past few years.

But I still think that some charity events (e.g. ROK cycle) are for charity first and foremost and should be respected as such.

plodder

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

I emailed the contact details of a "for charity" race to see what the situation was. Was 30% of the entry fee going to charity? Was 10 euro of each entry fee going to charity? Was a flat donation of 5000 euro going to the charity?

Charities should insist that if their name is being used to sell a race then the details whatever they might be should be published and punters can decide whether it's worth it or not.

The charity replied to me and said that "it would not be fair to this third party to give out information on the % that we will be making". Really? Why not?!

Why was the charity even answering the question? It should have been the race organiser who answered it. Nice piece of buck-passing though :rolleyes:

The conclusion I've come to on the whole charity thing, is that I'd consider raising money if I'm trying something newer or madder than what I've done before. But you can't keep hitting people for donations for running the same event every year.

hot to trot

I have often been asked if I am doing a marathon for charity too. My first one i did. And when I informed them of this and which worthwhile one it was , not one put their hand into their pockets to throw me a few quid. So everyone wants to know but no one wants to give , so I dont bother anymore.

HardyEustace

In these recessionary times you don't want to have the lámh out. I tend to organise cake sales at work, and rather than put a price on each cake, I just leave an open money box and let people donate what they feel they can afford.

People are always more than generous.

toomuchdetail

I am getting more cynical on these "charity events" as time goes on .
A few reasons :
1. Whats wrong with our system when very worthwhile services that support the community in various shapes require funding from the public to such and extent in the first place.
2.In the current environment I dont want to be embarrassed into either sponsoring someone or worse still embarrass some else into sponsoring me.
3.The "on top" compulsary charity donation usually non negotiateable .- Triathlon in Galway this weekend has a fee that is 40% of the entry price.
4. Most of these races will then be manned by volunteers from these charities who provide their time for free. Less cost to organisors.

Would also be curious to know what % of the collected money ever makes it back to the charity .
On the few I have ever only been involved with I tend to seek out information on their admin cost , % made available on the ground etc.
Would much rather give a few quid directly to Svdp or similar.

Dotcomdolly

I would presume when people ask "what charity are you doing it for" they mean are you fundraising yourself and aren't bothered about the "charity" races being discussed above.
I raised money (almost €1000) for the cancer society when I did my first race, to me it was mutually beneficial, it certainly kept my motivated when training (it hurts, but at least it's not chemo!) and I was doubly proud when I crossed the finish line. I think if the charity you choose is one that has personal meaning for you it will always add to your training & race day.
I'm starting training next week for the Dublin half-marathon & will be fundraising for St James' (oncology dept) as my best friend has just got out of there.

Seres

not always the race organisers that are pullin out the charity card , saw three women trying to get in to mini marathon last monday without numbers , and they were givin out to the stewart saying 'what are we suppose to do now with all the hundrets eh eurros we got for the cause , giveit bacK just cause we forgot our numbers ' funny that all three of them forgot them !!! needless to say they had no joy , one good cause turned bad in the thousands that day !

Magnet

If I`m asked if I`m doing a run for charity I always say (with this face - :cool: ) "No, its a competition" Then this face :rolleyes:

Funny I never see a fundraising Hurling/Tennis game...

catweazle

I am also very sceptical about some races becoming involved in charities. I did Tri3 a few weeks ago which was totally a for profit race. I can only assume that any marshalling, t-shirts, water stations etc etc are by and by eating into the profits of the event. I can live with these totally commercial events if their charges are too high I wont pay

Whereas with a charity event where there is a donation on top of the event fee it becomes a lot easier to attract entries, not pay marshals, look for sponsored water and goodie bags all in the name of the charity which allows the race director to keep more of the event fee to the race.

That was why I got so angry with the Galway Bay 10k event last year, this was the first time i ever contacted someone directly over charges. I asked the charity how much of the 60 euro entry fee for the race do they get, if they got 50% of the entry fee I told her I would enter, she replied none, that all went to the event organisers. Anything they got was donated on the back of sponsorship cards or extra donations on top of the 60 euro entry fee. I could not believe it, the race organisers were getting 60 euros a head for a 10k race. I was told (allegedly) that the marshals were volunteers and no roads were closed in this race. They must have made an absolute killing

Many people entered this race including my sister as it was for a good cause but I felt the whole thing was soured by the profiteering of the event organisers. She came to me for money for it and I was half sickened handing my pledge money over to her

I certainly dont want to tar all charity events with the same brush but I think people need to read beyond the lines and see what exactly does the charity get before handing the money over