Once again we see the breath taking power of social media and this time for an amazing cause. Cancer Research UK have raised awareness for cancer by encouraging people across the UK to text BEAT to 70099 to donate £3 to their charity. This has then been sparked into life by women across the UK taking and posting a #nomakeupselfie to social media platforms along with their text conformation to say they’ve donated.
This phenomenon has taken the country by storm although it is not known where it all started? Cancer Research originally posted to social media the usual donate numbers and somewhere the #nomakeupselfie began and started to trend very quickly. The trend went viral in just hours with women posting their #nomakeupselfie and then nominating several more women to join the fun. In just 48 hours the total amount raised by Cancer Research UK has soared to £2million which it says is “unprecedented”.
Cancer Research UK received more than 800,000 text donations in just 24 hours after they began sharing the code for its Facebook and Twitter pages this week.
An astonishing 1 in 3 of us are affected by cancer. Many have used the #nomakeupselfie to remember a loved one or as a show of support to loved ones battling the disease. The fact that so many are affected by cancer has played a major part of the success of this campaign.
Men have been joining in and posting photos of them made up with makeup and bows in their hair. Maybe in the next few days this too will go viral?! #boylotsofmakeupselfie
There are those who have been negative about the campaign and unhappy about their newsfeed being filled with selfies. They say the selfie has no relevance to cancer – who cares?! It has helped to raise awareness and vital funds to a truly worthwhile cause.
I have posted my selfie, have you?