Sunday 6 February 2011

Getting ready for Red Nose Day

Friday, 18 March is Red Nose Day and you know what that means: Fun fundraising with a serious goal in mind--to raise serious money for charitable causes in the UK and Africa.

Comic Relief's Red Nose Day challenge launches on 7 February (that's tomorrow). Schools, work places, and individuals are all organising their own fundraisers; celebrities are getting involved with or leading fundraisers, as well.


Corporate sponsors include BT, TK Maxx, Walkers, Sainsbury, and more. Brands are participating with various cause-related marketing schemes, such as this one from Cafedirect. Between the BBC spots and all the media coverage and social media activity, this year's Red Nose Day should be the most successful ever.

At this moment, nearly 200,000 people have clicked to "like" the Red Nose Day Facebook page. On Twitter, the Red Nose Day account has more than 35,000 followers. Red Nose Day's YouTube page has more than 13 million video views.

Social media weren't yet invented when Red Nose Day debuted on 5 February 1988, raising 15 million pounds from that first fundraising effort. This is great marketing for a good cause--how much will this year's event raise?