I’ve got deadlines coming out of my ears. There’s piles of washing to do. My desk looks like an explosion in a paper factory. For these reasons and many more, I find myself thinking ‘Why am I doing this?’ I don’t have time to get ihelpuk.com up and running. I’ve got kids. I’ve got a job. There’s a school carnival on Friday and I’ve got to dress three children in rainbow colours. And then I’ve got to dress one as a cat and another as a lion for Girl’s Brigade.
The list is endless, but isn’t it the same for all of us? If everybody said ‘Oh well, I haven’t got time to do this thing, even though it could be really good. Even though it could really help people’ then nothing would ever get done. There’s nothing special about me. I’m just another busy person in a busy world with a little idea that might just grow into something amazing. And because of that ‘might’ I have to do it.
So, here I am, e-mailing charities left, right and centre, in a bid to find the right people to feature on ihelpuk.com. I’ve already got a family who were featured on the BBC documentary Poor Kids, but I was saddened to hear that the production company are fearful of providing me with others because of a lot of vile hatred about the families featured that’s polluting the internet. If you saw that programme, like me, you’ll be stunned that it could provoke that reaction. Hatred towards the people who turn a blind eye whilst others live in extreme poverty perhaps. Hatred for the people who designed tower blocks that are now riddled with damp. But hatred for the families? Those incredible, clever kids who shine so brightly, despite the adverse conditions they have to endure. That is beyond belief, but I have to remind myself that it is a small minority. The vast majority of people aren’t like that. There’s a lot of good in this world and ihelpuk.com wants to tap into that.
It’s not about me. Or you. It’s about all of us, joining together to help each other. We live in a society where you can be paid £250,000 to kick a ball around and a pittance, to hold the hands of the sick and dying. Governments aren’t going to change things. We’re the people who can make a difference.
I am lucky. There’s a roof over my head and food on the table. There’s even a bit of money left over for treats. But I’ve got to thinking. Instead of going out and buying something I don’t really need, I’d rather purchase something that another person could really do with. A new jumper when I’ve aready got more than enough? Or a pair of shoes for a child who gets wet feet when it rains because their parents can’t afford a new pair? It’s simple really and I hope you feel the same, because if you do, then maybe we’re onto something with ihelpuk.com
So, I am going to continue beavering away and I hope we have at least half a dozen people on our website who you can help, in a few weeks time. And if you are a charity who have people you think we could help, then do get in touch.
And er, anybody know anything about lion costumes?