More than a funny red nose

by Emylou D'Souza; Mar 10, 2009

Red Nose Day posters are plastered at Sainsbury's, red noses are being sold in every street corner, Let's Dance for Comic Relief has dominated Saturday night TV and a bunch of celebrities have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. And all for what?

Well, all these campaigns and activities are in aid of Comic Relief, a charity that aims for 'a just world' free from poverty.

For 22 years, it has been running campaigns and activities which people can take part in to raise money for a good cause.

The BBC and Sainsbury's are two of its biggest supporters says Time Out. That explains the posters!

Talking to mindZgap, Michelle Hannon, an employee at Sainsbury's in Watford, Hertfordshire, feels a sense of pride to belong to an organisation that supports Comic Relief so ardently.

“We have had a good response this year, in spite of the recession. Our red noses sell like hotcakes and our customers are always inquiring about ways in which they can contribute.”

Do Something Funny For Money!

An article in the BBC reveals, “All donations go to different projects and schemes that support people suffering in both, Britain and Africa. Fund raising happens throughout the year and builds up to a live show, this year on 13 March.”

An interesting fact I picked up from the official Red Nose Day website, "Red Nose Day swings round every two years, this being its twelfth year in the running since 1988.”

Although Comic Relief generates a positive response from people most of the time, some like Mark Eglinton have a few questions.

Eglinton, a retired school teacher, has been contributing to the charity for two years now, and wants proof of how exactly his money has benefited kids in Africa.

“All I want to see is a bit more evidence of the good that is being done. For instance, if the charity was to say, oh, we bought new benches for the kids to sit on in this school, then that would be enough,” he told mindZgap.

So maybe Comic Relief needs to iron out a couple of issues, but in the end it's for a deserving cause and raises millions of pounds for charity.

According to the website TV.com, “One of the most fundamental principles of Comic Relief is the 'Golden Pound Principle.' This means that every penny donated goes straight to the people who need it. Salaries and all operating costs are paid for by sponsors.”

No one's asking you to climb Kilimanjaro or to make a national spectacle of yourself on tele, just put a red nose on your conk, and Do Something Funny For Money.