Children in Need

It's approaching that time again as this November marks the 37th year of Children in Need. I remember back in 1980 when it started as a little telethon, who knew it would still be going today in 2017 and raising money for some great charities.

I always watched it every year when I was younger but it would become even more poignant when my son came into our lives. I believe he came along for a reason (apart from the obvious one) and that was to understand and learn more about not just Autism but other families who live with a disability of some kind.

It is a time when watching the video clips of these children and families going through some really tough times that I feel we're very lucky and it gives me a sense of being grateful for what I have. It also makes me happy that there are charities out there who do wonderful things and who wouldn't be able to do those wonderful things without the funding they receive from Children in Need. I see some of this work first hand talking to families affected by Autism being supported by services which have been funded by your donations.

Yes there is controversy like everything else in life. Celebrities getting paid large amounts of money, or just wealthy celebs asking us all to give money but what the heck? I don't necessarily believe in getting paid for this but I suppose it's a personal thing, I'm really not sure who does receive what but all that matters that we don't boycott it for that reason because we take away help from the people who really need it.

There are a lot of celebrities who endorse many charities and some ask for fees some don't. What a celebrity or well known named person does is give the charity media attention. They grab the attention of folk, they do have to earn a living, some you may say wouldn't miss a few bob in their pocket but then it's again up to them. Before you think about the famous, think about the people who need help and support, your money also goes to organisations in the UK which I think is great.

There has also been problems about which charities have received money from Children in Need which is always going to be an issue, I would like to think, and maybe I'm a bit naive but I would like to think that most of the time CIN do try to source recipients the best they can do and strive to  improve the way they do this in the future. 

So don't chuck ya Pudsey Bear away just yet, I challenge you to just watch or listen to one story of one child or family that need support and tell me you can't pop a pound in a bucket. Imagine that family was your family - no one is ever immune from tragedy or sadness, at some point in our lives there just might be a time when you need a helping hand and it may be that you may need to lean on a CIN funded project.

Tune in on this coming Friday 17th November on BBC1 first at 7pm to see the end of the Rickshaw Challenge, just that sets me of crying so I have no hope then at 7.30pm for start of the main programme or just pop a bit of loose change into a collection near you. Thank you.

Thanks for reading today, I'll be back tomorrow with A Verse for Thursday but until then.......

Take care now.