UK charities

I think it's because the country is so small ("about the size of Oregon") that, in some ways, the country feels so cohesive.  Or maybe it's because I'm living in London, which dominates the rest of the UK--I'm sure I'd feel different if I were living in Northern Ireland.  But I like the idea that the country comes together for certain things, such as Spring, Remembrance (Veterans) day, and Comic Relief.

You probably remember the HBO specials from the mid-80s (plus 1996 for Hurricane Katrina) to support America's homeless, but the idea originated in the UK as an international charity, and has been going strong for 25 years. Along with "Children in Need," it is one of the biggest charity events in the country.

It is celebrated in March as "Red nose day" as people don clown noses to mark the day, with a telethon raising £80 million last year.  In 2002, however, they started alternating each year with "Sport Relief" in which people do fundraising events.  This year:

• Comedian (and transvestite) Eddie Izzard ran an astonishing 43 marathons -- 1,166 miles! -- in 51 days
• David Walliams, of Little Britain, cycled from John O'Groats (the northeast corner) to Lands End (the southwest corner).
• Christine Bleakley, a news presenter, water skied (skid?) across the English Channel.
• Helen Skelton, a kids show presenter, kayaked solo 2,010 miles along the Amazon
• Thousands of people will be participating in "mile events" at 16 locations across the UK

But for sheer crying-your-eyes-out, you can't beat Stephen Miller, who has cerebral palsy and competes in the Paralympics throwing clubs (the equivalent of the hammer toss).  In forty minutes he threw 67 clubs the equivalent of a mile. To watch him throw one will break your heart.