Gerry McCann is doing the Virgin London Triathlon to raise money for the Missing Persons Charity.

[Rachel Granada]

£7,526.81


Yay!!!

[sadie]

£7,526.81


Yay!!!

    Brilliant !

[stephen25000]

  Brilliant !

So exactly how many have donated from the population of the UK ?

[Rachel Granada]

I'm just reading up a bit more on what a triathlon involves and it's pretty gruelling.  Hope the weather is a bit cooler for it tomorrow.

[drummer]

Does it matter how many people have/have not donated? There are hundreds of charities that I would like to send donations to but the purse strings won't allow it. Doesn't mean I don't care or I think the charity is worthless. I certainly wouldn't find it amusing.

How heartless would I be if I gloated and sneered that charities weren't receiving donations just because I objected to the fundraiser.

[Rachel Granada]

Does it matter how many people have/have not donated? There are hundreds of charities that I would like to send donations to but the purse strings won't allow it. Doesn't mean I don't care or I think the charity is worthless. I certainly wouldn't find it amusing.

How heartless would I be if I gloated and sneered that charities weren't receiving donations just because I objected to the fundraiser.

    

It's also a shame that Hugh Grant is being sniped at after his very generous donation.  I too would love to give a lot more to charity but I do what I can.  I sell raffle tickets, make donations, buy merchandise etc.  If I could raise even 5% of what Kate and Gerry McCann have raised then I would be over the moon.

[gilet]

Back on topic.

I thoroughly applaud Gerry McCann for participating in the Virgin London Triathlon today.

His action is bringing much needed finance to the Missing People Charity.

Between them Kate and Gerry have raised in the order of £30,000 for this charity and I openly castigate anyone who makes snide comments about them and their motivation.

When those castigating the McCanns for these efforts (and they are very real efforts) demonstrate that they have done as much for charity then I may take them seriously.  Till then, I think any snide comments, any nastiness or any attempts to find fault in their participation in the marathon or this triathlon are simply petty and spiteful.

It is going to be a very, very warm day in London and humid too. I wish all those participating (especially those who are doing so for charity) the very best and I hope they all achieve the times they have set their hearts on.

And I ask all other posters to join me in wishing all the participants well.

[gilet]

What has a charity run got to do with 'getting on with his life'  ?

If you cannot appreciate that being involved in charity work is a worthwhile endeavour in itself and a very good way of getting on with your life, then I can only feel sorrow for you.

Gerry McCann is taking on a personal challenge and at the same time raising a considerable sum of money for a very worthwhile cause. The vast majority of people will be able to understand that this is a wonderful thing to be doing. I feel sorrow for those who cannot understand and have to ask questions such as the one you have posed.

[Angelo222]

I have removed a number of irrelevant off topic posts this morning.  The topic of this thread is Gerry's participation in the Virgin triathlon today in order to raise funds for the missing children charity.

[Rachel Granada]

If you cannot appreciate that being involved in charity work is a worthwhile endeavour in itself and a very good way of getting on with your life, then I can only feel sorrow for you.

Gerry McCann is taking on a personal challenge and at the same time raising a considerable sum of money for a very worthwhile cause. The vast majority of people will be able to understand that this is a wonderful thing to be doing. I feel sorrow for those who cannot understand and have to ask questions such as the one you have posed.

Great post, gilet.  Good luck to Gerry and all the participants and here's hoping that the weather isn't too hot.

[gilet]

I have removed a number of irrelevant off topic posts this morning.  The topic of this thread is Gerry's participation in the Virgin triathlon today in order to raise funds for the missing children charity.

Thank you.

Gerry McCann started at 7.00 am today.

He should be finishing within the next 30-60 minutes I would have thought.

[faithlilly]

I understand a certain Mr Saville made millions for charity by taking part in, and completing, many, many great feats of endurance. Should that fundraising be allowed to wash his reputation clean ? It seems 'fundraising is the modern day equivalent of 'finding God' to individuals attempting to wash from the nation's psyche their previously tarnished reputations.

[gilet]

I understand a certain Mr Saville made millions for charity by taking part in, and completing, many, many great feats of endurance. Should that fundraising be allowed to wash his reputation clean ? It seems 'fundraising is the modern day equivalent of 'finding God' to individuals attempting to wash from the nation's psyche their previously tarnished reputations.

No, Saville's fund raising does not wash his reputation clean.

Just as fund raising will never wash from Gerry or Kate McCann their personal anguish at having let down their daughter by such a bad error of judgement.

I really think you are exaggerating to the point of making your post sound a little silly when you try to excuse fundraising as the equivalent of "finding God" and personally as someone who has been involved for most of my life in various fund raising events from jumble sales to quizzes to running in similar events to those Kate and Gerry have done I find your comment rather dismissive of the good work done by so many people.

Perhaps if you got involved in some yourself you would see the kind of people involved and would change your view.

[Benice]

I understand a certain Mr Saville made millions for charity by taking part in, and completing, many, many great feats of endurance. Should that fundraising be allowed to wash his reputation clean ? It seems 'fundraising is the modern day equivalent of 'finding God' to individuals attempting to wash from the nation's psyche their previously tarnished reputations.

Why are bringing a paedaphile into this? 

Are you saying that everyone taking part in charitable events are to be suspected as being the same as Saville?  Or do you just have one person mind?     Either way your post is an insult  to everyone who works so hard to raise money for the less fortunate - and I hope it's removed out of respect for those people.

[gilet]

Why are bringing a paedaphile into this? 

Are you saying that everyone taking part in charitable events are to be suspected as being the same as Saville?  Or do you just have one person mind?     Either way your post is an insult  to everyone who works so hard to raise money for the less fortunate - and I hope it's removed out of respect for those people.

Quite. Faithlilly clearly has no respect at all for the tens of thousands of people who make efforts to fund raise for the myriad charities in our society. I pity people with that kind of attitude and I wholly reject their insinuations. I am sure that the vast proportion of the general public do as well, In fact based on the large numbers who get involved in fundraising every year I know they do.