Bogus Caller Sponsorship For 10 Mile Walk for GOSH

[FatherJack]

Young man just called to ask for sponsorship for a 10 mile walk for Great Ormond Street Hospital. My gut feeling was it's a scam and have just spoken with GOSH who say they have no planned walks at this time.

He was 18/19, 5ft 7, white with Irish accent and he said his name was xxxx Lawlor.

Can't remember the first name he gave.

He had a GOSH form.

Near DKH School.

[uncleglen]

All genuine charity events that need sponsorship money that I have come across recently have involved donating money to the individual asking to be sponsored having a website address for the donation.

[JohnL]

You can download a form or set-up a website

A form seems to rely on honesty however - The website is the way to go.

http://www.gosh.org/gen/fundraise-for-us/tools-and-advice/fundraising-toolkit/

[alice]

GOSH has a 10k run on December 10th

[Jacqui5254]

There is no way that GOSH has a handle on the hundreds of fund raising events that are done in their name. For most people its the go-to charity when they think of children and hospitals.

A friend of mine was upset when GOSH didn't send someone to formally 'receive' their cheque at the end of their fund-raising Golf Day. Their response..."we have hundreds of these events and we can't attend a fraction of them".

Personally, I think it would be nice if some of the lesser-known children's units received some of the attention and funding also.

[James Barber]

But the regional children's hospital covering us is the Evelina Children's Hospital. GOSH covers area north of the river thames.

[simonethebeaver]

In my experience, the Evelina loses out in the publicity stakes to GOSH. But you're not entirely right. The two hospitals send patients between them for various specialities, so Evelina kids go to GOSH on occasion and vice versa.

[HonaloochieB]

FatherJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Young man just called to ask for sponsorship for a

> 10 mile walk for Great Ormond Street Hospital. My

> gut feeling was it's a scam and have just spoken

> with GOSH who say they have no planned walks at

> this time.

>

> He was 18/19, 5ft 7, white with Irish accent and

> he said his name was xxxx Lawlor.

> Can't remember the first name he gave.

Aah so 'Pogues' Lawlor is back in town. It was only a matter of time until he revived the old 'GOSH! look at me I'm walking' routine.

Learned all he knows from his father Aloysius 'Pogue Mahone' Lawlor whose counterfeit Val Doonican style self-assembly rocking chairs caused mass outbreaks of 'JesusMary&Josephery' and a spate of votive candle burning ('Thorty pince? EACH! Sure God almighty 'tis no wonder the Father has a BMW. May the Lord forgive me for allowing the Devil to put such a thought in my head') amongst the grey-headed 70 plus female Gaelic community that a worldwide wax and wick shortage was declared and priests all over the land had to forgo.

Forgo what you ask?

Not for me to say.

Though maybe for them to admit...

Luckily my craic squad of Paddy Wagoneers brought Lawlor Snr to justice for the VD rocking chair caper and offences concerning Delaney's donkey and Paddy McGinty's goat, for which he was, deservedly, given a custodial sentence.

The auld sod.

Anyway keep a weather eye out for 'Pogues' and a tight grasp on your wallet/daughters/mistresses/civil partners/rude b@stards you happen to share a bed with.

Anyone spotting 'Pogues' leave a message on this thread and I'll be on it as quick as a Kerry man throwing aside 'Finnegans Wake'.

Members of the public are warned not to approach 'Pogues' as he is very fussy about the company he keeps.

When he 'cuts' you, you'll know all about it.

Best leave it and let some pros get involved.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

*searches for 'Like' button*

[lane lover]

FatherJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Young man just called to ask for sponsorship for a

> 10 mile walk for Great Ormond Street Hospital. My

> gut feeling was it's a scam and have just spoken

> with GOSH who say they have no planned walks at

> this time.

>

> He was 18/19, 5ft 7, white with Irish accent and

> he said his name was xxxx Lawlor.

>

> Can't remember the first name he gave.

>

> He had a GOSH form.

>

> Near DKH School.

Really bizarre to call GOSH and then strike this person off as a fraud.

You can do almost any fundraising event, then decide to donate it to GOSH. As previous posters have said, they are a massive "go to" charity - and could never keep on top of every individual person who raises money for them.

This is equally as likely a fraud as someone who is trying to do good in the community. I hope if the latter, this post hasnt stopped money going to a worthwhile charity.

Dont jump to conclusions and berate an individual on this forum. Best to remove the name until you can prove for certain this is indeed a fraud.

Innocent until proven guilty and all that.

[Penguin68]

I had a similar request, at much the same time, but from, by the description, an entirely different person - it seemed kosher, he did have the form, but I never give to charity at the door. I support through Gift Aid etc. I also do not sponsor activity except for people I know (friends, children of friends etc.).

But probably not a scam. If in doubt, anyway, give in a controlled manner and via direct and certain sources, rather than at the door.

[Jeremy]

As others say, plenty of people do things to raise money which aren't necessarily "official" events. And GOSH have lots of contributors.

Saying that... 10 mile walk... bit of a poor effort, isn't it? Just taking a couple of hours out of your weekend to walk to the city and back!