Money, Pride and Acute Embarrassment

This is Theo - isn't he lovely! 

He's the reason we're raising money for Down Syndrome Extra 21

When I was a kid, doing a sponsored something meant trudging round reluctant friends and relatives with a form and a biro, seeking their largesse. And if that was a bit embarrassing, collect the cash afterwards felt tantamout to being caught with your skidmarked pants around your ankles in W.H. Smith's "art pamphlet" aisle. So thank Gawd for Social Media.
Setting up the Just Giving page, a piece of cake.
Letting all your mates know about it through Facebook and Linked-in, a small slice of heaven.
Getting all competitive with fellow trekkers, a bit like pissing on your own chips.

"How's the fundraising going?" I ask the boys.

"I got mine up today and it's at £1800" reports JG www.justgiving.com/john-goreing

"Mine's a slow burn" says Bobby "I've been going for a month or so, got £3500, my firm is going to match it pound for pound, and a friend of ours is organising a pub quiz for us" www.justgiving.com/Rob-ClaytonO

JK's up and running, and in one day raised more yours truly has in two weeks, mainly thanks to JG who bizarrely donated £100 of his own cash (not that we're getting all competitive - the bastards)  www.justgiving.com/john-kearney1

"I really should get mine going" says Punky, although as he has half of the Forbes' Richlist on his Blackberry, we suspect he'll do well.

For our part, our friends and family have donated a respectable £500 so far. www.justgiving.com/AlexandDi

"Guess we just don't have any rich friends" says Gooner D.
Actually we do - the trouble is they're all coming on the trek with us!