Jason Manford slams “bloody stupid” charity poster for Motor Neurone Disease: ‘It’s an insult!’

Taking to Facebook, the comedian shared an image of the latest poster, which features a man staring seriously into the camera.

It was emblazoned with the words: “Last summer, I was the only person who didn’t do the Ice Bucket Challenge.

“Five months later I was diagnosed with motor Neurone Disease.”

Jason Manord, who is almost as well known for his fundraising efforts as he is his sense of humour, was left furious by the “guilt inducing” poster.

He wrote angrily: “Holy s**t!! I didn't run the marathon last year for Testicular Cancer!

“Is this how it works now? If we didn't help a charity out we might then get the disease in question! What a bloody stupid advert!”

His post was shared almost 50 times.

A few hours later, after taking some time to cool off, the dad-of-five posted an open letter to charities everywhere.

It read:

Charities,

A young man named Stephen once said to me 'try and put the fun into fundraising'. When you blast our screens with guilt-inducing pictures and slogans, it is an insult to the people who donate to charity. It presumes that we can't empathise with the situation. The suggestion is that there's only one way to get the money from us, tap into the primal human emotion of guilt and shame. It also exploits those sensitive people who are emotionally vulnerable and whom get distressed by such imagery.

Absolutely show us videos of pictures of people in need, that makes total sense, but give us some credit as human beings. I think a charity like Comic Relief balances it just right with the correct amount of fun and clips of the reason we need to take action.

*If we keep being blasted by these guilt-based adverts, the danger is we will become desensitised to them. The Ice Bucket challenge was a huge success, it was a world-wide phenomenon and brought Motor Neurone Disease to the fore-front of everybody's thinking. It also helped raise a lot of money which I hope and pray has been put to good use. *

I also pray that none of that money went on that disgusting advert.

*I don't for one second blame Michael, the guy in the advert. It is probably something he said in passing, something we would all say in the same situation. He is not the reason this advert has made me angry. He is also a victim of the ad agency and of the charity who try to manipulate us by using this negative form of begging.

Of course emotionally engage us, show us the horrors of a life with a disease or in poverty, we need to see that, that should never be hidden away or denied. But why don't you also show us what the money would be used for, show us where it's going to be spent and show us how it can improve people's everyday lives. Try and tap into our compassion rather than our kindness, try and speak to us on an equal level, don't treat us as us (the donors) and them (the sick / needy / poor / starving).

It is not 'us and them'.

Anyway, I got way more into this than I wanted to but some people were misunderstanding the satire of my previous posts. I think most charities have got it right which why when we see a horrible advert like the MND one, it shocks and sticks in the throat. We might see that advert and donate immediately out of guilt helping your donations in the short term.

I've done that myself, but the charities that I'm involved in and whom I raise money for every year are the ones who showed me where that money went and gave me something tangible to think about, so I could see exactly that money can be used to great effect!*

His message has clearly struck a chord with many of his followers, as it has been shared over 200 times.

And, more tellingly, almost 400 comments have been shared beneath it.

However, while many have praised Jason for his words, some have slammed him for ‘misinterpreting’ the advert’s intention.

One wrote: “It's not a "guilt based advert". It's not even asking for money.

“They are doing their best to keep the awareness of this horrible disease.”

What do you think of the poster - do you agree with Jason Manford?

Let us know via the comments box below now.