Social media making a splash for charity

RHSCHPP

Charitable Trust

MEDIA RELEASE

26 January 2010

Social media making a splash for cheer-spreading charity

Humilation can be for a good cause.

A Wellington charity group is embracing the dignity-sapping powers of social media to gather support for a noble cause devoted to bringing laughter and joy to the hearts of thousands of New Zealanders at the expense of Mount Victoria resident and IT geek Robert Holloway...all while supporting the humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

The group, called Robert Holloway Should Change His Profile Picture, (RHSCHPP) was initially set up with the humble goal of gathering sufficient support for Mr Holloway to change his Facebook profile picture to that of a delightful snap of him releasing his inner water baby as he frolicked in the seas of Abel Tasman National Park in a pink inflatable ring earlier this month. 

The group has successfully achieved its founding aims, resulting in Mr Holloway changing his profile picture, but the charity says they now hope to use the group to reach out and improve the livelihoods of thousands of New Zealanders through the magical power of laughter and pink inflatable rings.

RHSCHPP Charitable Trust spokesman Brendan Findlay says the group was overwhelmed and deeply moved by the influx of support and generosity of the Facebook community, and the group reached its initial target of 50 members in a fraction of its set timeframe. In the face of mounting online interest, Mr Holloway has thrown down the gauntlet, and agreed that should the group reach 10,000 members by midnight on Saturday 30 January, he will that very evening parade shirtless up and down Courtenay Place wearing the pink inflatable ring. 

 "Although we are very pleased at the amount of exposure Mr. Hollowa'ys humiliation is recieving, Robert hassuggested that if we're going to take the mickey out him, we may as well do it for a worthy cause."

As such, for every one dollar pledged by members towards the Red Cross's humanitarian efforts in Haiti, Mr Holloway will reduce by five the number of members required to turn his midnight stroll in front of thousands of drunken revellers into a reality. 

“Mr Holloway, for all his wonderful qualities, can be a cocky little shit, and we believe that humbling him for the amusement of others is in the interests of the wider public,” says Mr Frith. “He gloated that we'd never make it to fifty members, and we understand he proposed the target of 10,000 because he thought that was beyond the capacity of our charity.”

“I think Mr Holloway underestimates the ability of a childlike smile and a pink inflatable ring to capture the hearts of a nation...so let's prove him wrong...and we might as well piggyback on the publicity for a deserving cause.”

“I think there's a joyous little child in all of us and Robert's not ashamed to express that, and we think such innocent and carefree exuberance should be encouraged. I mean, have you ever seen a grown man so happy?”

Mr Findlay is urging the Facebook community to dig deep and spread the word in order to reach the group's target. Should the target be reached, Mr Holloway's journey up and down Courtenay Place will be unprofessionally filmed, and posted on Youtube for the pleasure of the entire world community. Also, ten inflatable pink rings will be donated to a school or charity organisation of Mr Holloway's choosing, so that young children can experience the joy of the young at heart that he himself discovered when frolicking in the water.

Mr Holloway will also be treated to beginner swim classes so that next time he ventures into the water, he won't need an inflatable ring to have a good time.

The group can be found at the following link:http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=259278143924&ref=ts, or search for "RHSCHPP" on Facebook . Membership is open to anyone, and members are encouraged to invite their friends and loved ones to spread the word. For memberships to contribute towards the target, you must join before midnight on Saturday evening. Details of how to make donations towards the Red Cross's humanitarian efforts in Haiti are posted on the group's Facebook page, and members are encouraged to post pledges of their donations on the group's wall.

Mr Findlay and the RHSCHPP Charitable Trust thank the public for their ongoing generosity, and the awesome photographer for totally nailing the moment.

Grown men are advised that pink inflatable rings, which can be purchased at The Warehouse for around five dollars, should not be relied upon as flotation devices, as they are not designed for adults, however ridiculously happy they may make them.
ends

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