An „embarrassment of riches“ at his request
Numbers.
Numbers are great. Love numbers.
The number “38”, thirty-eight, is possibly your best bet this Saturday.
You’re probably familiar with the upcoming date already but let’s just give it another mention because nearly thirty eight years ago, on July 19th 1976 a “sturdy nine pounder” Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born to his very proud parents Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton. More than three decades later, Wanda’s “little wonder” as referred to in the press on July 24th 1976, now an internationally known, loved and respected heartthrob continues to make wonders of his own.
In 2014 Cumberbatch’s “CumberCollective” have come together to act at his request: “Could you please put the time and energy, money and effort you put into those gifts, cards and messages to me into doing good for someone else?“ Nothing’s more simple than that, dear Benedict.
Although it is still up to you how you would like to spend your forces in honour of the actor’s birthday, you can lick at your post stamps or save paper and submit a message/video/photo with best wishes on HappyBirthdayBenedict.com. Feel free to light a candle, raise your glass or bake a cake to enjoy his birthday.
However, it’s become the usual in recent years, countless fundraisers for a variety of charities have been set up. Doing good for someone else, you see and you lot have been unbelievably generous so far this year in support of the ALS/MND Association (suggested by Benedict, fundraiser by Debra, Debbie & Reshma) or and The Prince’s Trust (suggested by Benedict, fundraiser by Naomi). I can’t but have to mention a few more such as the ones by Lissie (fundraises for the Mental Health Foundation), Becky (fundraises for Nordoff Robbins UK) and Clare (fundraises for the Motor Neurone Disease Association). It simply is impossible to mention all fundraisers who have come to life thanks to the actor’s short message in 2013. Take Pei for example who gives a monthly percentage of her Cumberclay earnings to The Prince’s Trust.
Private donations to these and other charities of the people’s choice, non-publicized on social media, not taken into account we are – as I’m typing… – at astonishing £24.071.64 and Benedict’s birthday is not quite around the corner yet. I don’t think words like „Thank you so much“, „I’m grateful“ etc. do not cover how proud I am to be a part of this fandom and you should be too. Let’s leave being flabbergasted about this embarrassment of riches to the man who started it with a couple of words.
„From someone who want more time in this world, please don’t waste yours. You’d be amazed what you can achieve when you try.“ (Stephen Sutton, 19)
It seems the older the Londoner grows, the more money we will raise in aid of others. Even though most of this year’s fundraisers have reached or updated their initional goals, please keep donating if possible. You and me, us, we might not get to see where our money goes in person but be assured it will help others in need a great deal, make a difference, change and even save lives.
„But it doesn’t have to be money, perhaps it’s just a bit of your time or a simple gesture of kindness…“ added the 37-year-old last year. He’s quite right, it’s also about your attitude toward others and your surroundings. Especially when you’re unable to spare some money to charities – take time to be kind. Be kind to one another. Hold the door open, greet someone. Smile at strangers, make a compliment. Get your headphones out of your ears and look up from your phone. Make someone else’s day, maybe not only on Cumberbatch’s birthday. Get more ideas and join BatchOfKindness.com.
„Many, many thanks to you wherever you are in the world,“ says Cumberbatch and we at World According to Benedict second that. Feel free to use the #fansforgoodcauses hashtag on social media as invented by Cumberbatch’s agency Conway van Gelder Grant. Keep it up and have a splendid day celebrating the daily wonders Benedict makes us do.
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