#FacepackChallenge #FacepackYourBagsCancer

Like every JustGiving page there is a story, and like every story there is a beginning. But unlike every beginning, this one started with a penchant for facepacks.

I like facepacks. I don't care who knows it, but I do. So I (along with one other 'silly soul') started a group at work called #FacepackFursday, and every Thursday we would do a facepack (mud, moisturiser, peeler, treatment, whatever) and post it to the #FacepackFursday group on Facebook. At first only the 'silly soul' joined in, then the next week 14 joined in, then the week after over 50 joined in. So far so much fun, and everyone was basking in the glory of #FreshFaceFriday (the good skin 'day after') because of this.

#FacepackFursday was off and running and the nation’s skin was ever so slightly less greasy, less spotty and just, well, prettier.

Then my workplace got news that a colleague (let’s call him ‘the inspiration’), someone who was held in high respect for a journey he had travelled and the place he was now in, had got cancer. And that it was terminal. And that the prognosis was 6-12 months before ‘the inspiration’.....................well, and suddenly #FacepackFursday felt even sillier than it already patently was, and not important anymore.

An idea rattled around, for a couple of days, that if so many people are prepared to do #FacepackFursday, frankly, for a laugh, could it be used for something a bit more substantial? Could ‘the inspiration’, whose terrible news of cancer be the spur for something better than #FacepackFursday, something more lasting and deep.

And the answer is: YES.

On 29/01/15 the #FacepackChallenge will be launched, using the fundamentals of the 'Ice Bucket Challenge', but with a facepack photo posted to Facebook instead.

For those who don't know what this means, you simply post a picture of yourself on Facebook in a facepack of any sort: mud; moisturiser, peeler, homemade, silly (ice-cream, gravy, ham, carrots, anything). At the same time you donate money to either this JustGiving site (a charity nominated by 'the inspiration') or perhaps a cancer charity of your choice that is personal to you because of someone you know. 

You then 'Nominate' 3 people you KNOW will accept the #FacepackChallenge and 'call them out' on Facebook, giving them 24 hours to do the same: Do a Facepack, donate to the cause of their choice, and nominate 3 others to do a #FacepackChallenge. 

With a bit of luck the challenge spreads out, gets big, and loads of people do it raising money, treating skin and hopefully cheering up 'the inspiration' a bit.

I, and many of my colleagues, will be donating to the cause suggested by ‘the inspiration', of St Luke’s Hospice, in Harrow, because that is where he has chosen to go. But ‘the inspiration’ also wanted money to go to fighting cancer, and to tell cancer to #FacepackYourBagsCancer, so this is also suggested.

Please join in, take part, buy into this story and help use ‘the inspiration’s’ story to take a step forward against cancer and tell it frank to 'do one'.

Cheers.

Thanks for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page.