[Closed] I don't get this dying helping raise lots of money...

Interesting - charity funding linked to population control - you may have the germ of an idea there. One to pass on to Cameroon.

but this is taking it a bit far...

Not far enough IMO.

Not taking anything away from her efforts and the grief for friends and family but it does seem strange to me.

Maybe its because she didn't quite make it to the finish, thats a lot of effort for no result so heres a few quid to your charity for your efforts type thing ?
If she had died after the race would the money of increased so much, I think not.

Plenty of folk do things I don't understand and would never consider...

You only have to look at how charities raise money now to see why this has got people's support.

They all try and tell a story and focus on an individual. Oxfam etc never show a photo of a camp with 30000 people in it and say 'feed this lot' - it's always an individual, named, child and 'feed child x'.

This woman has/is a story and is an individual not just one of 40,000 other runners.

People perceive (rightly or wrongly) that she was doing somethign for others running the marathon and that her death deserves some recognition towards the cause she was running for.

I have no idea what caused her death but, if it were my wife/daughter/etc then I'd be grateful for every penny that went to the charity she supported and not try and question peoples motives too much, tbh.

Its more fitting than the gushing RIP threads on here every time some nomark celeb dies.

Must be bittersweet for the Samaritans. Sad because their fundraiser's brown bread, happy because they've got a shedload of cash.

What on earth is wrong with rip threads?

See also, a national outpouring of grief after a millionaire has a heart attack while playing a game of football. Hundreds of people have heart attacks every day and yet the vast majority aren't lucky enough to have a large team of professional medical staff immediately to hand to save their lives. I don't see much national mourning for them.

People need an reason to be charitable. Sponsoring a "struggle" to highlight a good cause is a good excuse to be charitable.

For the person being sponsored, the physical struggle is a catharsis and sponsorship provides added motivation. That's why friends and family are the keenest sponsors: they are helping the person through their emotional struggle.

[url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4372230.stm ]RIP Little Baby. Safe in the arms of Jesus. From someone who is a loving mother xxxx.[/url]

I'm pretty cynical about the media role in this, people die every year doing the LM this year it happens to have been. a photogenic young lady, and suddenly the media are reporting on it. RIP.

Egg-sellent link dobbo. Some people need to get ova themselves.
Not me though, I have a hard shell.

Imagine how much money would have been raised if the runner had been from Liverpool and wearing a chicken suit ! There's your million pound idea.

What worries me is the precedent it now sets. Will we be seeing charities actively cajoling people with dodgy tickers to do sponsored tandem free fall parachute jumps?

Actually... you can tell Steve Hilton and his blue sky thinking have left Downing Street. Otherwise I'm sure CMD would have had a press release out hailing this as the Big Society in action

Apparently, the British Heart Foundation are currently trying to talk Fabrice Muamba into doing a sponsored BASE jump.

Just googled and the last person to die was 2007, a 22 year old man.

I do remember it being in the press at the time, but I don't remember his charity getting as much cash. Having said that, its a fair point he wasn't as attractive as this years.

Maybe when they have finished the post mortem and they find that she has a rare heart condition etc, I'm sure the coughers of British Heart Foundation etc will increase no?

It seems pretty understandable to me.
You've got 35,000 people running. Most of them have friends, family, love ones etc. It doesn't take too many of them to think 'there by the grace of god*' it could have been my son, daughter, wife husband etc. People empathise and want a way to express it.

*Or 'there by the grace of the proton pump' for the militants 🙂

[i]people die every year doing the LM[/i]

The overall mortality rate from the 20 years is one in 67,414, or roughly one death for every two million miles run:

[url= http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/london-marathon-what-we-know-about-the-incidence-of-injury-illness-and-death-in-the-london-marathon-881 ]http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/london-marathon-what-we-know-about-the-incidence-of-injury-illness-and-death-in-the-london-marathon-881[/url]

be interesting to know what the mortality rate for the same number of hours lived of non-marathon runners might be?

I have no idea what caused her death but, if it were my wife/daughter/etc then I'd be grateful for every penny that went to the charity she supported and not try and question peoples motives too much

This & a bit of empathy to show that there is something positive to come out of her loss perhaps.

This & a bit of empathy to show that there is something positive to come out of her loss perhaps

^this

* I can't believe some comments on here, what's wrong with donating a fiver or whatever in her memory?

I heard somewhere that somebody dies most days at Heathrow airport. Get enough people in one place at a time and the math predicts that one will keel over and die. Yet another marketing opportunity missed. Of course, they are usually middle aged fat blokes, but nothing a crack on-call team of morticians on standby in the First Class lounge couldn't work into a PR coup.

"I can't believe some comments on here, what's wrong with donating a fiver or whatever in her memory?"

My Gran died 2 years ago of a stroke, your welcome to donate a fiver to the stroke association if you want in her memory. I'd be chuffed if you did 🙂

Oh then theres my Mother who had a heart attack a few years back, (she's not dead yet though), again The British Heart Foundation would welcome a donation, or do I need to tell you when she eventually dies?

Hels, you should be on the Apprentice.

I'm normally pretty cynical but I really can't see the issue here. 😕

[i]Oh then theres my Mother who had a heart attack a few years back, (she's not dead yet though)[/i]

see my earlier post re: a compelling story.

Was your mum trying to rescue some ostriches from a car as it rolled in a ball of flame down a remote mountainside? That'd be worth a tenner of anyones money.

Some people need to get ova themselves.
Not me though, I have a hard shell.

Don't be so clucking heartless

i think that folk see it as brave that the young lady died trying to raise money to help others.
she died helping a good cause didn't she?
i dont see a problem with wanting to donate to a cause that someone died trying to help.
and i reckon anyone who does is a bit of a toss pot to be honest.

I'm generally a bit of a dick but I can't see an issue with this one.

I think ton has probably nailed it.

"i think that folk see it as brave that the young lady died trying to raise money to help others. she died helping a good cause didn't she?"

Ok I could be cynical here, but did she wake up one morning thinking I want to raise money, and therefore will run the LM, or did she think, ah I fancy runnning the LM, but to do that I need to raise money for charity? She wasn't brave, just unfortunate.

"i dont see a problem with wanting to donate to a cause that someone died trying to help."

Neither do I, but I wish people would put a bit more thought in to it and support charities that matter to them, or would choose to sponsor a charity normally.

It shouldnt take some one to die, the media to make a big point of it for people to feel they need to make a donation. Its a sad state of affairs, and I blame Diana PoW for dying for kicking off the stupid national sheep heardism.

[i]but did she wake up one morning thinking I want to raise money[/i]

Probably, her brother took his own life with an overdose and she felt that she wanted to raise money for Samaritans to help others who might be in the same situation he found himself in and give them an alternative.

Still, you carry on casting aspersions, eh.

Don't be so clucking heartless

OMG Al, you are so right. I'm AMAZING. I'll get booked in for a charisma-ectomy immediately.

I'm sure the interview process will stamp all over any remaining self-respect before they roll cameras.

"Still, you carry on casting aspersions, eh."

No your right, I haven't read the Daily Mail all weekend sorry.

There is always something in glorious failure that seems to capture the imagination of the British, see Scott for an example..

Justgiving must be rubbing their hands together, it's a fair amount for them when they take their 5% cut 😯

I read somewhere else that they've already refused numerous calls to donate their commission to Samaritans as well.

Maybe we should set up a justgiving page so that we can donate when we see a poorly thought out trolling attempt.

I thought about commenting on Dobbo's story, but chickened out.

Neither do I, but I wish people would put a bit more thought in to it and support charities that matter to them, or would choose to sponsor a charity normally.

What makes you think that the two are mutually exclusive?

It shouldnt take some one to die, the media to make a big point of it for people to feel they need to make a donation. Its a sad state of affairs, and I blame Diana PoW for dying for kicking off the stupid national sheep heardism.

It doesn't. You seem to making an assumption that these are people who wouldn't normally give.
And having seen very little in the media, it seems driven by individuals which the media is then reporting on.

i think that folk see it as brave that the young lady died trying to raise money to help others.
she died helping a good cause didn't she?
i dont see a problem with wanting to donate to a cause that someone died trying to help.
and i reckon anyone who does is a bit of a toss pot to be honest

This pretty much hits the nail on the head.

In response comment about donating to just any charity, I've both donated to friends that done specific challenges for charity and I've done a few myself, what people chose to support should be encouraged not questioned. In this case it was tragic that she died trying to raise money for people less fortunate than herself, people are just recognising the sacrifice that she ultimately made.

Maybe we should set up a justgiving page so that we can donate when we see a poorly thought out trolling attempt.

I'm hoping ^ this is the case 🙄

this year it happens to have been. a photogenic young lady, and suddenly the media are reporting on it

No doubt this incredible generosity is helped by the media exposure, but I’m sure the reason the media latched onto this story so quickly is they realised, just as thousands of people all over the world have done, that Clair was a remarkable young women. All the stories tell of a beautiful, larger than life personality who directed her boundless energies into enjoying life to the full and also using these opportunities to raise substantial sums for various charities.

Having first met Clair over ten years ago when she worked in the local pub, I can tell you first hand all the stories are true. Boundless energy, the loudest laugh you’ve heard, and always ready to enjoy life to the max. She was glamorous in the extreme, but just as happy covered in mud on an assault course or some other madcap adventure.

Claire has three sisters, and one of her brother in laws started the mountain bike group I ride with every Sunday. I spoke to him yesterday, and while the family are completely devastated, they are absolutely overwhelmed by this phenomenon and it’s providing huge comfort at such a desperate time for them.

Over £300,000 now, absolutely amazing and truly uplifting to witness.

A few quid to the persons charity of choice is way better than this kind of littering landfill tossfest...

[img] [/img]

A few quid to the persons charity of choice is way better than this kind of littering landfill tossfest...

My thoughts are that.... I hope it comes as some solace to her family and friends that she past away surrounded by Love.

Having run London on Sunday I can tell you that the support, encouragement and genuine love shown by the crowd to all the runners be they family, friends or strangers is something to behold, a truly wonderful thing...

(maybe it’s that spirit is now being show again on her justgiving page)

A hundred meter before she came to rest she would have past Big Ben, one of the highlights of the course, I hope she felt as I did… super happy that she’d nearly completed her marathon and had time to take in the wonderful atmosphere of the crowd and fellow runners.

My race went perfectly, I had the most amazing day and I feel even more lucky to have had such a great time in light of this sad news. So I’m going to do a little tribute run, at lunch time, to a fellow London Marathon runner…. down embankment, right at Big Ben then down Birdcage to place a flower somewhere appropriate.

Pass me a bucket...

re: the OP, I really don't see a problem with this.

OP, feeling like a bit of a churlish arse yet?

I spoke to him yesterday, and while the family are completely devastated, they are absolutely overwhelmed by this phenomenon and it’s providing huge comfort at such a desperate time for them.

"OP, feeling like a bit of a churlish arse yet?"

No not at all, I was never questioning the womans motives, her personality etc etc. I just dont get why so many people are suddenly giving money to the Samaritans when they wouldn't have done if she hadnt have died.

"OP, feeling like a bit of a churlish arse yet?"

No not at all, I was never questioning the womans motives, her personality etc etc. I just dont get why so many people are suddenly giving money to the Samaritans when they wouldn't have done if she hadnt have died

I dont believe you should feel churlish

there are kids with cancer who are trying to raise money and will never get a look in I know of one very very heart renching story and that little girl has been trying to raise 500k for nearly a year to save her life, which will probably be too late

some bird dies running through her own choice and raises 300k in 2 days

So I’m going to do a little tribute run, at lunch time, to a fellow London Marathon runner…. down embankment, right at Big Ben then down Birdcage [b]to place a flower somewhere appropriate.[/b]

In a litter bin?

If the money raised was for some dubious cause (like Kony) you might have a point. I don't know much about the Samaritans but it seems like a good thing unles s you know any different?

some bird dies running through her own choice and raises 300k in 2 days

Yes, it's simply [i]awful[/i] isn't it?

"Yes, it's simply awful isn't it? "

Yeah just like last weeks news when it was simply awful that rich people donate money to charity for tax releif purposes.

Cake and eat indeed.

Eh?

Not aimed at your personally Grum, but theres a lot of, its all for charity whats the problem, which in fairness there isnt a problem.

However for some reason rich people giving money to charity is bad.

[i]there are kids with cancer who are trying to raise money and will never get a look in I know of one very very heart renching story and that little girl has been trying to raise 500k for nearly a year to save her life, which will probably be too late[/i]

As far as I can tell from recent events, if she times it right and dies while doing it, she'll easy hit her target.

As far as I can tell from recent events, if she times it right and dies while doing it, she'll easy hit her target

What truely awful thing to say 🙄

Jeebus, this place never ceases to amaze. People felt compelled to give some money after a young woman dies trying to raise some money for charity, only this forum could somehow turn it into a moaning fest about people giving money to charity.

🙄

There are some properly twisted people on here at the moment. But like the poster a bit further up said having all these donations come in are helping the family deal with the horrible reality of losing someone then send more donations. And I agree with ton.

not sure of anyone elses motives/opinions on this but I'm intetrested/bemused/dissapointed in the disparity between good looking lass dies during a televised event and get's a fortune donated v.quickly, poor kid dying in anonymity has difficulty raising money (as per compositepros example). It's a media thing innit?

Both valid cases not saying either deserve more or less money/media than the other.

Some things just "click" with the general public and [s]everyone[/s] a lot of people are empathised/peer pressured/whatever into giving money and there's an outpouring of emotion. Is it just the media leading the public or vice versa? or bit of both?

I'm running the london marathon for Samaritans because they continuously support others

That's from her just giving page, that's all she stated no pleading, no look at me aren't I great, just a pure & simple altruistic action for which she paid the ultimate price.

I was just called cynical. Fair point maybe I've turned into a cynical man.

I said the only reason this has got legs is because she is a woman, young and pretty good looking.

Terrible thing to pass away. But I doubt the rest of the world would have donated as much had she not been as pretty.

[i]What truely awful thing to say [/i]

personally I think it's truely awful that people donate money in memory of a dead woman instead of towards a young girl who could live. But hey, perhaps that's just me.

there really are some arseholes on this thread.
lets all have a good laugh about the dead and the dying. good on you guys.

It's inevitable that given the publicity the deceased runner would earn some extra donations for her cause, and it's not a bad thing.

The BBC quoted some people as saying "she's an inspiration". I hope this isn't really what they meant...

I would, well would've

personally I think it's truely awful that people donate money in memory of a dead woman instead of towards a young girl who could live. But hey, perhaps that's just me.

You do realise that the money donated isn't actually going to a dead woman and is in fact being giving to The Samaritans? Who support an enourmously wide range of causes, no doubt including, directly or indirectly young girls coping with difficult or life-changing circumstances?

The whole point of charity is it is inclusive and goes to everyone in need, not a few select causes.

Found out a short while ago I was at the same wedding as this young lady in Portugal about 18 months ago. I was also watching the race very close to where she died but was unaware until later.

The groom at the wedding did some mtb. I recall a number of the tables had Welsh trail centre names. Looks like a relative of the unfortunate young lady was on the Llandegla table:

[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4080/4879515234_83bf639409.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4080/4879515234_83bf639409.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/12617230@N03/4879515234/ ]P8070455[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/12617230@N03/ ]blackhound59[/url], on Flickr

Real people, people. Real people with family, friends, lives that have been touched. A bit soon isn't it? Tough crowd on here.

"So I’m going to do a little tribute run, at lunch time, to a fellow London Marathon runner…. down embankment, right at Big Ben then down Birdcage to place a flower somewhere appropriate.

In a litter bin? "

Nope ... sorry to disappoint.

Found some other "littering landfill tossfest..." so added to the collection.

There really are some charmless whelks on here

Some pretty harsh comments on this thread 😕 and I agree completely with Ton.

My suggestion of a just giving page for when trolls frequent this forum was missed.

But this thread is full of it so we would have hit our targets already.

Can I make a suggestion to the mods though, do you think it would be a good idea to remove any names or specific references to the lady who died? I'm sure you don't really want to end up high on the search rankings for any related search strings...wouldn't be a good publicity for the forum or magazine for people to see the dregs of the STW society in this thread.

I'm glad so many STWers agree that this thread is disgusting. I assume that the 'trolls' or callous human beings have not lost someone, and certainly not lost someone so young. I hope you never have to feel that pain.

If for one moment you can try and empathize with another person, with a family that has just lost a young woman, then maybe you would understand that although a death is a tragedy, that there is some small comfort if some good can come out of it, such as money towards a charity.

If this is a troll I suggest you get it deleted.

This thread is great. The Sanctimonious Sentimentalists vs The Callous Cynics. I'm just sorry I don't got any popcorn.

As the OP can I just say that some of you are missing the point I was making. Yes its sad for the friends and family of the woman (not me, I didn't know her) and it must be a truly awful time for them. But I have not once said anything for or against the woman.

However, the point I was making that I think its disgusting that some one dies and then people start dishing money out to charity. The fact is if she hadn't of died she would have raised about £500 !

I still think Diana PoW has a lot to answer for though with the UK's passion for dead people.

[i]The Sanctimonious Sentimentalists vs The Callous Cynics[/i]

[harry hill voice]

But which is best?

[/harry hill voice]

Nice thought rosey.
I was down there on Sunday as my wife ran the marathon, a great event. I'm glad I still have my wife around, one family is not so lucky.

The overall mortality rate from the 20 years is one in 67,414, or roughly one death for every two million miles run:

2 million miles, at 10mins/mile = 20,000,000 minutes = 333,333 hours.

be interesting to know what the mortality rate for the same number of hours lived of non-marathon runners might be?

660,000 hours.

[i]660,000 hours. [/i]

so, in that many hours how many people under, say, 50 might be expected to die?