Dave Sanders of Carshalton has delighted his family and friends by raising tens of thousands of pounds doing everything in his life for charity.
Dave, 37, said he saw the light after raising three hundred pounds for a very good cause in memory of a relative nobody by running a 10K. ‘It’s not as if I’m much of a runner or even did much training. It was really a bit of self indulgence, but it was for a good cause and everyone rallied round, including the ambulance service and the local hospital when I collapsed afterwards.’
Dave said it was when he took a diversion on his way to work the following Monday that he saw the potential for developing the concept further. ‘Initially I complained about the inconvenience, but then I saw the fund raising potential of literally going the extra mile for charity. Friends and family rallied round and I was soon taking increasingly longer diversions, all for a good cause.’
Since then, Dave has developed the concept further so that he is sponsored for most of his daily activities, from walking the dog to flossing his teeth. ‘To be honest,’ said his partner Ella, ‘he was never a great flosser, but knowing it’s for the sanctuary makes him go that extra molar every night. He even suggested shagging for charity but I drew the line at that, though I managed to refrain from saying that was what it sometimes felt like to me.’
Sitting in his favourite armchair raising money by drinking beer while watching football, Dave said his friends had started to join in. ‘I’m delighted they want to do something worthwhile with their lives,’ he said, ‘but to be honest I find it a bit much when I keep finding their begging emails cluttering up my inbox. I think I’m already doing my bit, thank you.’
Dave revealed that he was now even working for charity, after his poor timekeeping and pestering colleagues for sponsorship became intolerable. He is going to make use of the extra time by doing some reading, beginning with Dan Brown's books, ‘not that I could read those for pleasure, but knowing it’s for the kiddies makes it all worthwhile.’
