Why do people face danger in the name of charity.

[samssong]

SO another adventurer has died while walking to the South Pole [Henry Worsley] .

 

But why do they do it ? Why climb Everest or cross the Sahara or trek to the most inhospitable places on Earth in the name of charity [often putting others in danger who try to rescue them and also leaving family's without a father or mother to fend for them as they grow up].

 

Would it not be easier to cycle across Europe ,America or Russia for instance or walk from Lands End to John O Groats etc, Why do they put their lives and others at risk .

[Obelix]

You think that cycling across Europe or America wouldn't be putting yourself at risk?

[Gamston]

They do it because they enjoy the adventure . If charity was their main motivation, then they could find other less dangerous ways to raise money .

[999tigger]

Its a challenge and they raise more money than they would have by trekking up Kilimanjaro.

They also get a lot more publicity, which is just as valuable for the cause conerned.

 

Peope dying on charity events such as this I'd think is the exception rather than the rule.

[monkey104]

While ever there are challenges that push man to the limit they will always be attempted.

Doing it for charity is a way of raising money in order to attempt the challenge and for raising money for charity.

a friend once did a parachute jump for charity. He had to raise over £250 part of which went towards cost of the jump and the majority to charity.

[Andy1976]

Quite simply because people generally only give to charity for one of three reasons:-

 

1. They really love/care about the cause - eg people support cancer charities if personally affected;

2. They think someone is doing something that requires massive exertion/risk of injury;

3. They think someone will make themselves look stupid.

 

I've done numerous marathons with little interest in sponsorship, but when I did a 36 hour climbing challenge that had risk, people sponsored me. Similarly, when I ran a 5k dressed as a pink, two man unicorn, people again were keen.

[LeMaquis]

Would it not be easier to cycle across Europe ,America or Russia.......

 

Cycling across Siberia must be like a stroll to the shops.

[Waldo]

Peope dying on charity events such as this I'd think is the exception rather than the rule.

 

Yep; easily less than a 50% fatality rate for summit attempts on Everest.

 

Not sure what the fatality rate for solo walks to the south pole is though, probably a lot worse than for Everest summit attempts.

 

In contrast walking the length of the UK or cycling across Europe or the USA, I would think is a *LOT* safer.

[Quik]

Ok I'm going to completely cut lettuce out from my diet for February, all proceeds to H4H, who wants to sponsor me?

[Mister M]

People face all kinds of dangers for a good cause. A colleague of mine was stabbed when she was working at a homeless shelter in London. Admittedly that's an extreme example. However, many front line staff in public services like teaching, nursing, social work and policing have to put up with a barrage of abuse, and threats to themselves on a daily basis. Not nice