Put on a Happy Face...

and a RED NOSE!
This week I learned about what I am thinking has and will continue to become my favorite biennial holiday (that means it happens every other year....) Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised by Comic Relief which culminates in a night of extraordinary comedy and moving documentary films. Comic Relief is a charity set up by comedians that uses comedy and laughter to get a serious messages across, while making sure that everyone who gets involved can have fun at the same time. Over the years, more than 2 thousand celebrities have given their time and talent to Comic Relief, and Red Nose Day is the biggest TV fundraising event in the UK calendar. On Red Nose Day everyone in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is encouraged to cast inhibitions aside, put on a red nose, and do something a little bit silly to raise money. It is an event that unites the entire nation in trying to make a difference to the lives of thousands of individuals facing terrible injustice or living in abject poverty.

I learned about Red Nose Day through two TV adverts, one for toilet paper and the other for red noses at a grocery store. So I checked it out. Since Red Nose Day's launch in 1985 Comic Relief has raised over £425 million. That cash is helping to change countless lives for the better, both in the UK and internationally. 60% of the money raised helps to give people living in grinding poverty across Africa a better chance in life. 40% helps disadvantaged people and communities across the UK turn their lives around. Money in Africa goes to projects in aid of street children, HIV & AIDS care, urban slums, women and girls empowerment, trade, and areas affected by conflict. Money in the UK is spent on youth work, pensioners clubs, mental health, refugees, domestic violence, and disadvantaged communities. For more information, including which organizations have received grants and the details (pretty informative!) see www.rednoseday.com. Seems like they are doing some pretty great work!

This year Red Nose Day is on 16 March and I am stoked! The whole idea is pretty crazy, just do something wild, anything to raise money and complete it with a red nose! Pretty SWEET! So I decided to get involved and to get my youth at church involved as well. I still have to get the churches approval.. but there are big plans in the works! We are going to be doing a spare change drive and provide members of the congregation with cool cups to pile their coins into. We are also planning a dance marathon for 9 March, where we will remain on our feet from 8pm to 8am with sponsors supporting us. And for the big goal/dream, I am even hoping to get a local restaurant to donate 10% of its profits for the day on Red Nose Day to Comic Relief! But we will see if that works out!!

AND if you want to donate money there is a very easy way! I have started a fundraising page for my youth, it can be access at www.myrednoseday.com/thepoint and you can easily donate a few bucks- which will be turned into a few quid! I am excited to take on this challenge with my youth and to encourage them to make a difference and show them we can have fun doing it. This Sunday they will each get a foam red nose of their own to be worn during our time of fundraising! I am sure there will be fun pictures to share soon. I can't wait to see how much money our wee group can raise!

Your prayers for the success of our fundraising as well of the whole event are much appreciated. I am sure I will keep you posted, as I was up til 3am last night too excited about all this to fall asleep! (maybe it was the Sudafed? I am still not feeling 100%)