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“What is the use of living, if it not be to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?”
- Winston Churchill
Thank you for taking the time to visit my fundraising page. Before I begin, it is important to note that donating through JustGiving is secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving and, once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity.
On 14th July, I (founder of The World Outline) will be running the British 10k through Central London in aid of The World Outline's partner charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
As an impartial, internationally-minded news source, it made complete sense that we at The World Outline supported a charity that is committed to the delivery of impartial aid to those who need it most. MSF fits the bill.
Before I talk more about MSF, it is important to note the impact that your donations will have.
What impact can your donations have?
£1.20 will cover the cost of medicine to treat one person for malaria in a country like Sudan.
£1.70 can pay for vaccines to inject 10 children against measles.
£10 can pay for vaccines to inject 56 children against measles.
£24 can give a baby the necessary drugs to protect them against the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
£42 can pay for a kit to ensure a safe delivery at home for five mothers and their babies.
£62 can pay for vaccines to inject 350 children against measles.
£96 can pay for treatment for one person living with HIV/AID for one year, and can give them hope for the future.
So there it is, for the cost of a lucozade or a couple of bags of Walkers crisps you could be saving a life. For the cost of a London travelcard, you could be preventing 56 children from contracting measles (one of the biggest causes of death in young children).
Who are MSF?
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have been delivering vital humanitarian aid around the world since 1971. The stature of the organisation is exemplified by the international recognition that it has received. MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize of 1999 "in recognition of the organization's pioneering humanitarian work on several continents".
The charity works in over 60 countries and it exists purely to save lives by providing medical aid in armed conflicts, epidemics, famines and natural disasters (such as the Syrian civil war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the spread of Malaria, AIDS and TB across Africa to name but a few issues). Most importantly, it is not biased in its delivery of aid. At the core of MSF’s identity is a commitment to independence, neutrality and impartiality.
Impartial
MSF provide free medical care to people who need it. It doesn’t matter which country they are from, which religion they belong to, or what their political affiliations are. All that matters is they are human beings in need.
Neutral
In a conflict situation, MSF doesn’t take sides, but go where people’s medical needs are greatest. In the ward of one MSF field hospital, you might find wounded civilians alongside injured soldiers from opposing sides. Hostilities and weapons have to be left at the gate.
Independent
MSF rarely take funds from governments, businesses or institutions for their work, but rely mainly on the generosity of individual members of the public. Over 90 percent of their income comes from private donors giving small amounts.
This means that when there is an emergency, MSF do not need to wait for official funds to be released or for the media to generate interest; they can act fast to save people’s lives based on need alone.
Their financial independence also means the aid that they provide cannot be used to further any government’s political or military goals.
How will your money be spent?
At MSF, they deliver care directly rather than through local partner organisations. They set up and run medical services, train staff and respond to fast moving emergencies, as well as longer-term crises. This means the money you trust to MSF is spent by MSF.
MSF UK Expenditure 2012
Aid overseas: 87%
Fundraising: 9%
Admin: 4%
Essential running costs make up 4% of money spent by MSF while 96% is spent on aid and fundraising. Therefore, most of your money will have a true and lasting impact on lives around the world.
Why 10k?
Running is not my strong point so this distance represents a solid challenge to begin with. This 10k will be the start of many challenges attempted with the aim of raising money for MSF.
Please take the time to check out the videos below to learn more about the MSF cause and to understand the true difference that you will be making to people’s live by donating.
Absolutely any donation that you can afford would be amazing. I know it’s a tough time out there for a lot of people but, in perspective, we have domestic peace, fantastic health services and more than enough resources to be shared around. The people that Médecins Sans Frontières are helping do not have such a great quality of life and we are in a position to do something selfless for those who really need it the most.
Thank you for your time and (hopefully) your donations,
Jack Francis Xavier Moore
Learn more about MSF
MSF in 40 seconds: http://youtu.be/mXV8lTgETks