Changing Lives

Comic Relief 2013 earn enough money to support their fami‐ is a huge charity based in the lies. UK that strives to create a fair world free It has also been used to support families from poverty. With the support of people who have been affected by natural disasters in the UK and around the world they hope and devastang conflicts. Addionally, the to make this vision a reality. funds are used to vaccinate children vulner‐ Comic Relief began in an Ethiopian refugee able to diseases that can easily be prevent‐ camp in Sudan on Christmas day 1985 fund‐ ed. Just five pounds is enough to pay for a ed by . Ethiopia was gripped by jab that could protect them from five po‐ a devastang famine that was taking many tenally deadly diseases. Is it fair that their lives. Comic Relief began raising money for lives are so different from ours and that food by geng comedians to simply make they constantly live in poverty? Isn’t it the public laugh. This raised enough money worth saving money that you might spend to buy food for the Ethiopians who dras‐ on a Big Mac to save a child’s life? cally needed it. Aer this, Comic Relief be‐ When we asked some of our teachers about came determined to help disadvantaged comic relief their responses were varied. people in developing countries and also Mrs Keepax said, “I was not too impressed right here in the UK by helping homeless with comic relief this year because of their people who seek refuge to have a beer puerile humour. I also think that they try to life. Comic relief has influenced other coun‐ drill the point in too much and they should tries to have fundraising days and charies have it on less. However, I believe that such as Comic Relief. money should be donated to charity on a Over the years, Comic Relief has created regular basis. Also, I believe that it is great new ways of raising money; such as Red that people in the UK are also supported by Nose Day and Sport Relief. Since Comic Re‐ comic relief. ” lief began it has raised over 800 million Another interview we had was with pounds to tackle poverty in Africa and the Miss Burman and she thinks that hav‐ UK. The money generated by staging events ing Comic Relief too oen may desen‐ is used to provide educaon for African chil‐ dren who couldn’t otherwise afford their sise people. She has been to India school fees. This can change their lives dra‐ and states, “Condions that I wit‐ macally because educaon gives them fu‐ ture opportunies to obtain good jobs and nessed in India were shocking.” basis? People we have been interviewing who Comic Relief changes lives for the beer have witnessed the poverty in the third and in years to come the charity hopes to world believe that Comic Relief is really fulfil its vision in raising enough money to making a difference. aid developing countries to become inde‐ pendent and just as prosperous as we are. This year Comic Relief has earned a stag‐ gering £75,107,851 so far, which is a rec‐ Emily and Phoebe ord. Comic Relief 2013 has raised money in a variety of ways. On Red Nose Day, Friday, 15th March, celebries performed challeng‐ es and hosted funny shows and people from all over the country parcipated in Sport Relief. For example, , who has seen the devastaon and need in Uganda first hand, raised money by trying to break the world record for how many armpits she could wax in 3 minutes. She stated, “I love the idea of doing something funny for money to raise cash for Comic Relief.” The money that she raised can help change lives and prevent unnecessary deaths. But do people somemes forget the true purpose of comic relief and just spend the day having fun? Are we really concerned for the wellbeing of the poor or are we just trying to ease our consciences? If we save so many lives and raise so much money on publicised events couldn’t we strive to raise much more for charity on a regular