The Dawn of a New Era
We are an advanced species of bipedal primate endowed with the intellectual capacity for great insight and intelligence. In the nano-second of time since we took the precarious decision to climb down from those trees in Eastern Africa, we have evolved into emotional, sentient beings with the unique ability to open our own beer cans, and then moan about it.
As well as through powerful cognition, human behaviour is shaped by a wide range of emotions. This is what really sets us aside in the order. With the influence of our beliefs, perceptions, attitudes and desires, we’re each able to consciously experience love, humility, remorse and generosity. And of course, as the icing on the cake, we can actually communicate these feelings with one another, on an increasingly deep and meaningful level. Homosapiens (wise man), it seems, may now be evolving into the next generation, one we might aptly term homoaffectus (feeling man).
Our large brains differentiate us from our ancestors, initially providing superiority in hunting, tool-making, and other skills necessary to ensure survival, and subsequently inspiring Michelangelo’s masterpieces and Newton’s Principia, among other works. As a sign of how far we’ve come, some 300,000 years and 7.8 billion people later, we now have to go back more than three centuries to re-visit Jefferson’s famous reference to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. This is a phrase, flattered by posterity, that has become synonymous with the western world.
Conversely, recent world events have left us facing the immediate prospect of some of those “unalienable rights” being stripped away, albeit temporarily. Presently, we are a nation confined to our homes. Fortunately, the majority of us don’t have to face this situation alone: Netflix is £5.99 per month, and that’s for those honourable enough to subscribe! If, on the other hand, your morally-flexible amigo happens to divulge their login details over a long island iced tea, this then opens a realm of near-infinite opportunity.
The slightly more serious point that I allude to here, is that we live in an age where our technology has evolved to such an advanced stage that, right now, at my very fingertip, I have the ability to connect with almost anyone in the world, in a matter of seconds. A little unnerving, perhaps, given that I’m drafting this blog in the solace of a candlelit bubble bath. On the other hand, how exciting! Even a generation ago, this would not have been possible. Now, it’s something most of us probably take for granted. We ought only check the rear-view of our evolutionary lineage to find a similar being incapable of speech, and yet now, in practical terms, we may have already surpassed its necessity.
Indeed, communicating with one another has never been easier; nor has gaining access to information. Being, as we are, 21st century hominids, existing in an age where we can access information so readily and acquire knowledge in Neo-like fashion, we embrace an ever-increasing tendency to consume information via digital means. Times change in the blink of an eye.
Why the Darwinian metaphor? That’s a good question. One reason is that your survival now hinges on your ability to adapt your fundraising strategy, with such haste that many of you will be asking ‘how?’; another is that, well, science is cool.
Let us focus our attention on that first reason. How do we transform from the bucket collections and social events of early man, to the digital platforms and online means of modern humans? I’m glad you ask! The team here at Choose a Challenge has been caressing chins and scratching heads, and together we’ve come up with the following ideas, from some of which we hope you find inspiration:
1. Exercise challenges: The age of peloton is upon us! This is the perfect opportunity to get fit and do so for your cause! (Please ensure that you are following government guidance on staying safe if you are exercising outside of your home - www.gov.uk/coronavirus.)
2. How many beans? Yes, that’s right! Jelly beans - in a jar - need I say more?!
3. Online quizzes: You could make this a regular event, now, as we’ve all been barred from pub quizzes until further notice. Get your friends to invite their friends and before you know it, you have a whole host of virtual quizzers to donate to your cause (and they get a great night out of it too.)
4. Online bingo: Again, this could be a regular event. Send out some cards; use a random number generator and revise that bingo lingo!
5. Live Streams: Set yourself a weird and wonderful challenge; use Zoom or Facebook to broadcast it live. Shave it; Dye it; Eat it; Let your imagination go! Ever seen Ready, Steady, Cook? Try making a meal out of an assortment of random items in your fridge... The opportunities are endless.
6. Use your own skills: Teach yoga, offer musical instrument coaching, create art or knitwear, host language-speaking lessons, use the skills you already have to bring in those donations, and teach your friends something new!
7. Virtual collections: Your charities will be able to offer some advice about these and will be on hand with plenty of tips.
8. Virtual dinner party with games: With an audience of Brits, most of whom with a peculiar obsession with Come Dine With Me, surely this one’s a winner?!
9. Virtual challenges (cycling or running): One of the team recently took part in the Inka Trail virtual marathon and reported back that it was really good. Give it a go! (Again, please ensure that you are following government guidance on staying safe if you are exercising outside of your home - www.gov.uk/coronavirus.)
10. Cake sales: Buy now; bake later. Pledge to bake your friends a delicious treat, something to look forward to when things return to normal.
11. Give up alcohol: Abstinence makes the heart grow stronger.
12. Learn a new skill in a week: A song? A dance? A recipe? An instrument? Use your time to not only learn an amazing new skill, but get donations for your efforts too. It’s a win, win!
13. Host a gaming tournament: This could be a computer game, like Pre-Evo, or something more traditional, like Chess; ask each entrant to donate a small amount to take part.
14. Virtual tutoring: Are you in a position to read over someone’s essay or help them prepare for any upcoming exams? If so, perhaps you could set up an online seminar or knowledge base and give some virtual lessons to those who need it.
15. Spring clearout sale: Now is the perfect time to have a spring clean and prepare to sell all of your unused possessions online. While you won’t be able to get out to the post office for the time being, it’s a great idea to get prepared and start uploading your treasures to a host of retailers - you’ve got Ebay, Shpock, Gumtree, Marketplace, Depop, Ziffit, Music Magpie, etc. Just make any sellers away that you won’t be able to post until it’s safe to do so!
16. Grow a crazy beard or moustache: Use your time in lockdown to grow out that beard, develop a curly moustache, perfect that goatee - making yourself look slightly ridiculous is always a great way to get in those donations from friends and family.
17. Raise awareness online: Share your page on Facebook, as well as stories of your charity’s mission, and remind people of your own story and the reasons why you’re fundraising.
Hopefully that’s at least enough to get you started. This list is by no means exhaustive, but rather a sample of ideas that we’ve collectively generated. Don’t forget - your charity representative is the best person to speak to about this stuff, so get in touch with them for expert advice and support.
Of course, there are going to be many whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by Covid-19, and the associated economic paralysis, so we can’t expect everyone to be in a position to donate. Think for a moment, though, about what this means for the majority of us in terms of our day-to-day routines:
(1) We’re no longer buying that soy latte before work each morning;
(2) We're saving on transport to and from work;
(3) We've stopped dining out until further notice;
(4) We’re not currently betting on outrageous 9-way accumulators each weekend;
(5) We’re no longer being tempted by the allure of shiny shopping malls;
(6) Our gym and leisure memberships have all been deferred.
The generation of today seems inclined to spend, rather than save, so get yourself out there, just as you’d be doing anyway. It’s a different medium than face-to-face fundraising, but the principle remains the same: Show people why they should be throwing their extra cash at your amazing cause.
On a personal note, I believe altruism across the globe will soar in the midst of this crisis. As the dust of the economic bombshell settles, people will quickly accept that their liberties and livelihoods are, for now, very much on pause. Given the opportunity to reflect on the bigger picture, humanity will triumphantly quell many of today’s disputes and grievances, both domestically and internationally. In turn, you will find donors more and more empathetic and willing to contribute to your cause.
These next few weeks are going to pose a new challenge for many of you, one that we hope you’ll approach with the same passion and enthusiasm that made you sign up in the first place. Continue to work with your charities and retain that supportive presence within your team. Stay motivated and determined, and you will reach your goal. Oh, and if you do try something online that generates results, don't just keep it to yourself… Make a song and dance about it! Post it in your Facebook group, let your charity know, and above all, spread the word among your fellow fundraisers.
Above all, please try to remember that raising money for charity is one of the most noble endeavours anyone can do in their lives. The selfless act of promoting a cause, not of your own, but one you believe in, and then raising awareness in wider society, is one in which you should take the utmost pride. It is without question that, with the current imposition of social distancing measures, we’ve all hit a speed bump. Please don’t give up! Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, and with the face-to-face component of fundraising now removed until further notice, we’re all going to have to get that little bit more creative! As Darwin put it, adapt to survive.