Sponsor sponsor – can you spare a bob? – 10.30

A long time ago, way back when I was a wee girl, the school I attended used to get me involved in many a sponsored activity. I was also a brownie and I went to church, so the opportunities to be involved in charity work were numerous. I sometimes wonder if we did more of this kind of thing because we went to a Church of England School or if it just depended on the teachers we had and their principles and morals. They were the good old stock from the ‘Old England’ School.
 
Sponsoring was easy back then. We would go and knock all the doors in the village and we’d be sponsored 20p, 50p, and the rich ones would give us a pound. Then, a few weeks later, we’d have to go back and very politely tell our neighbours what we’d done and how and then pick up our reward.
 
Those were the days when parents weren’t afraid to let their children play outside, when politely knocking on doors and bob-a-job was acceptable. You’d bump into the lady from up-the-road and she’d do your coat buttons up so that you didn’t catch cold (and then you’d undo them again). These days you’d have to get a Criminal Records check for fear of paedophiles lurking behind each door. These days, I wouldn’t dare do a child’s coat buttons up for fear of being accused of something beyond what I thought I was doing.
 
I wonder sometimes if the dangers are greater or if we just let them grow bigger in my minds. Whatever the case, I doubt I’d let my little girl go knocking on doors with a sponsor form.
 
I didn’t knock on doors – I didn’t tell my friends – and I hardly dare ask for money.
If you can spare a bob however, this is where you could send it:
http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=7900&p=85676
 
All donations would be greatly appreciated.