In the UK and elsewhere individuals often engage in activities (e.g., running, shaving your head, etc.) for the purpose of eliciting sponsorship. The money raised is then donated to charity.
Questions:
- What motivates people to give money to the participants who then give it to the charity?
- If the cause is worthy, why not give anyway?
Possible explanations I have include:
- The participant willingly endures hardship and people give money as a reward for that hardship. In other words, it is a form of an emotional blackmail. This would mean that someone apt at the type of activity should receive substantially less.
- The event is fun to watch and it is merely a PR opportunity.