Daniel Emmerson
Daniel's Thetford Iceni Marathon page
Fundraising for Shelter
Story
I’m not sure if what I’m seeing on the streets in big cities (Birmingham, London, Leeds) is reflected in the statistics on people who currently face hardship through homelessness, but it certainly appears as though the number of people sleeping rough is on the increase. Back in November the BBC reported that “[In 2018], 320,000 people were recorded as homeless in Britain... It is a rise of 13,000, or 4%, on last year's figures and equivalent to 36 new people becoming homeless every day”
In my mind, I always try and justify why I should or shouldn’t give money to the homeless people I walk past/try to ignore on the tube. The pros and cons always sound so absurd on reflection, but my internal monologue goes something like this:
“I want to help this person but will they just spend the small change I can give them on booze or drugs? Will the money I give them even be theirs, or do they hand it over to someone else? Even if they don’t, I can’t help all of the people I see who are evidently in need. How can I identify the best person to give any money to? It’s probably best if I give to a charity that knows how to help them... Yeah, I’ll do that, they are much better qualified to know how to spend money to impact those who need it most”
By the time that conclusion has been reached, I’ve walked passed the individual in question, and in more cases than not, I haven’t given them any money. Sometimes I might buy them some food, but what good is one meal? On top of that, I’ve never given to the charity that I so frequently have in mind, nor have I done anything to raise money for one.
So I’m giving this a shot, not to make myself feel better about the people I so often walk past and ignore, but to try and make a small difference to a charity who is committed to the cause.
I ran my first marathon in 2017 and it was gruelling. I finished after 4.5hrs and have no idea as to how it will pan out this time around. It doesn’t really matter, but I’m going to give it my all. Whatever happens in the process, I hope that Shelter can help change the lives of some people who, for whatever reason, have found themself in a desperate situation. Hopefully you can help too!
http://www.justgiving.com/Daniel-Emmerson3?utm_id=27
In my mind, I always try and justify why I should or shouldn’t give money to the homeless people I walk past/try to ignore on the tube. The pros and cons always sound so absurd on reflection, but my internal monologue goes something like this:
“I want to help this person but will they just spend the small change I can give them on booze or drugs? Will the money I give them even be theirs, or do they hand it over to someone else? Even if they don’t, I can’t help all of the people I see who are evidently in need. How can I identify the best person to give any money to? It’s probably best if I give to a charity that knows how to help them... Yeah, I’ll do that, they are much better qualified to know how to spend money to impact those who need it most”
By the time that conclusion has been reached, I’ve walked passed the individual in question, and in more cases than not, I haven’t given them any money. Sometimes I might buy them some food, but what good is one meal? On top of that, I’ve never given to the charity that I so frequently have in mind, nor have I done anything to raise money for one.
So I’m giving this a shot, not to make myself feel better about the people I so often walk past and ignore, but to try and make a small difference to a charity who is committed to the cause.
I ran my first marathon in 2017 and it was gruelling. I finished after 4.5hrs and have no idea as to how it will pan out this time around. It doesn’t really matter, but I’m going to give it my all. Whatever happens in the process, I hope that Shelter can help change the lives of some people who, for whatever reason, have found themself in a desperate situation. Hopefully you can help too!
http://www.justgiving.com/Daniel-Emmerson3?utm_id=27