Please click the image below to contribute whatever you can to offset the
$10,000 of expenses I expect to incur on my 4,500-mile solo cross-country
trip.
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Seriously, John? Is this a ride for a specific charity or cause? Is this solicitation in the true spirit of GoFundMe's stated purpose?
ReplyDeleteThis ride is not for a charity or a cause. I wrote the following in Questions I’ve Been Asked (https://johnlinkbikingadventures.blogspot.com/p/questions-ive-been-asked.html) about my 4,500-mile ride in 2019, and my answers to those questions regarding my upcoming trip are the same:
DeleteWhy are you doing this?
"Just to do it."
Are you doing it to get stronger?
"No, just to do it, but I am getting stronger."
Are you doing it to raise money for a cause?
"No, I’m doing it just to do it."
Here are two statements I found regarding the purpose of GoFundMe:
GoFundMe is the trusted place to fundraise for what you care about.
https://www.gofundme.com/c/how-it-works
Crowdfunding harnesses the power of social networks and the internet to give people the means to raise funds, help others overcome hardship, and meet aspirational goals.
https://www.gofundme.com/c/crowdfunding
My CrossCountry 2024 trip is something I care about and is an aspirational goal, so I consider my fundraiser to be in the true spirit of GoFundMe’s stated purpose.
I couldn't disagree more. It's my belief that the "true spirit" of this fund is to provide monies to those actually in need, not pay for an individual's personal "aspirations" which basically translates into seeking an expenses-paid, free ride. Asking others to pay for the privilege of somehow living vicariously through your bike ride feels like exploitation. But I suppose anything can be justified.
Delete