#NoMakeupSelfie | Project 365:2014 – Day 79
Project 365 Tip! Raise awareness. Everyone has a charity or cause close to their heart. There are so many ways to raise awareness for the cause, and having seen photographs and read blog posts about various plights the world over, it has personally raised my awareness of things that I didn’t know about. Click here for more ideas and tips for Project 365.
Yesterday and today, all over social media, I kept seeing photographs with the tag #nomakeupselfie, of women taking a self-portrait of themselves without make-up to raise awareness for cancer research. I’ve seen many of these awareness things in the past – you’ve probably all seen the colour of your bra one, or where you’re going in the world for however many months on Facebook, which to be honest, meant nothing to me and was just cryptic. This campaign – however it started, caught my attention. Cancer is all around us. Statistics say that 1 in 3 of us will be affected by cancer in our lifetime. Cancer is the one thing that petrifies me. I’ve even had counselling for that fear because it consumes me every day of my life. I’ve never told anyone that before.
Seeing photographs of women I know, women I don’t, sharing a photograph with the world of something that they probably would never do – a face without make-up, whilst to some may seem trivial and stupid, to me seemed empowering and standing up to something worth fighting against: cancer. Just like people running to raise money, or sitting in a bath full of baked beans, or telling a joke. The chances are that we will ALL be affected by cancer in one way or another, and raising awareness, however trivial to some, is a good thing. If it means you get up and donate, you’re helping to beat it.
In the UK you can text BEAT to 70099 to donate to Cancer Research UK. I have done that this morning in addition to sharing my #nomakeupselfie.
View all of the photos from Project 365:2014
lisa prince
March 24, 2014 @ 8:03 pm
weldone hun, i love that people are helping AND DONATING to cancer research x
Cass@TheDiaryofaFrugalFamily
March 23, 2014 @ 8:27 pm
You look fab and whether people agree or disagree with the meme itself, it’s raised 2million+ I think so it can’t be anything other than good can it?
Charlotte
March 23, 2014 @ 4:03 pm
Great post, I’m not a fan of the concept to be honest… maybe I’m too sensitive but I’ve seen a lot about being ‘brave’ taking a picture with no makeup. I don’t think it’s brave, I think it’s realistic. I think those suffering with cancer are the brave ones. BUT having said that I’m very glad it has made so much money for cancer research x
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
I know what you mean about the “brave” thing, especially so in this context and the reasons why people were doing it (at least, some people were) it seems like such a stupid thing to describe as brave. I too am glad to read how much money has been raised x
Claire Toplis
March 22, 2014 @ 5:37 pm
awwh it has gone well xx fab cause
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
It has gone well, just pray for the day that they can find cures for all of them x
fritha strickland
March 22, 2014 @ 5:31 pm
It’s gone so amazingly well hasn’t it! x
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:45 pm
Better than people thought I think xx
Kara
March 21, 2014 @ 7:55 am
I cannot believe how well this has gone and now much money it has raised. Well done for being part of it x
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:45 pm
It’s gone very well for Cancer Research UK who benefitted from this round of donating – hopefully other charities can receive the same sort of exposure x
Sarah Bailey
March 21, 2014 @ 2:02 am
It’s so nice to see people raising awareness and donating – I know most of the ones I have seen have either had a note attached or a picture saying they have donated which I think at the end of this is the thing that needs to be taken from it. One night a year we stop and watch Comic Relief / Sports Relief / Children in Need and its amazing to see that social media has the same sort of power as a TV show these days. x
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:46 pm
Agree – I saw many on my FB posting these selfies, saying “for cancer awareness” but nothing else. Nope, a photo isn’t going to do a thing – it’s the donating that will x
Kirsty Hornblow
March 20, 2014 @ 11:20 pm
It is fantastic that this meme has raised lots of additional funds for cancer research and the arguments around a link to a no make-up selfie and cancer are irrelevant if it means that people talk about it and raise money. You look gorgeous x
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:47 pm
Agree – it’s the impact that this caused to Cancer Research UK, which when I last looked had raised £2 million!! x
Happy Homebird
March 20, 2014 @ 10:24 pm
I’ve seen this over the past couple of days. I must donate, I’ve been rushing around and had only half paid attention. You look great with no makeup xx
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:47 pm
Just text BEAT to 70099!! xx
You Baby Me Mummy
March 20, 2014 @ 9:22 pm
I think it is amazing that everyone has raised over £1 million. Well done for taking part x
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:47 pm
£2 million now!! x
mummyoftwo
March 20, 2014 @ 8:58 pm
Great selfie! I think it is great awareness has been raised by such a simple thing that has spread so quickly.
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:48 pm
I think the viral nature of this has helped. I would have donated regardless because I do anyway, but did this as it was my ‘selfie’ day and it felt right to do it without make up x
Anna
March 20, 2014 @ 8:57 pm
Thanks for the reminder, I have just donated now. We very recently lost a family member to pancreatic cancer, and have lost others in the past. I wish for the day we have a cure, it’s such a cruel illness – so sad to see well loved family members go from healthy and well, to dying from cancer in such short space of time in some cases :(
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:49 pm
It is such a cruel illness. It doesn’t pick and choose over colour, race, creed, age, gender, social standing…I too have lost people to cancer and hope that one day it can be eradicated, or with better diagnoses and treatments people can live longer with it x
Kate Williams
March 20, 2014 @ 8:56 pm
You look marvelous madam!!! I saw loads of people posting pictures with no mention of donating, they just didn’t know about that part of it. I do think it’s a bit of a shame that not having make up on is seen as brave, but the amount of money it’s raised is fantastic :)
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:50 pm
The brave aspect is a weird one. I can see where people might come from on that, as far as wearing no make up is concerned if they never show their face without it – but in the context of this next to a terrible disease as cancer seems to me to banal and silly. x
Agata Pokutycka
March 20, 2014 @ 8:18 pm
Someone had a great idea… most of us when we see hash-tag #nomakeupselfie know what is it all about… great way of spreading the word
Michelle Ordever
March 23, 2014 @ 6:51 pm
It went viral really well and shows the power of social media at its best. I hope that that £2million Cancer Research raised because of this helps find cures x
Jen Walshaw
March 20, 2014 @ 6:32 pm
I don’t really see the point of this. Yes cancer awareness and financing its research are imperative, but I am not sure that a selfie is the best way. I think I can say this as I have had cancer!
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:41 pm
I’m glad to know that you are a survivor of cancer x
For me, the point was to raise awareness and encourage people to donate. I donate to charity regardless, but the viral social media aspect means that a lot more money has been raised because of it – at least that is what I have read on various news websites.
lisa prince
March 20, 2014 @ 6:15 pm
its becoming a great way to raise awareness and thats all that mattrs, some are donating which is even better but its all about the making people aware that is important from my view x
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:41 pm
It’s about the awareness to donate to fund the fight against this awful disease. x
Kirsty Phillipson-Lowe
March 20, 2014 @ 5:28 pm
It is great if everyone donates however I am sure that many don’t and just post a picture. I am all for raising awareness for cancer and this is certainly help raise funds :-) x
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:42 pm
I’m sure there are those that don’t, but I would hope that those who know why this hashtag trend happened was to encourage people to donate x
Eileen Teo
March 20, 2014 @ 2:48 pm
well done to you! i need to remember to do it soon! i had some many people tag me!
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:42 pm
If you don’t want to do it, just donate :)
Suzanne Whitton
March 20, 2014 @ 2:43 pm
If it causes people to donate then yay! What I don’t like is people just putting there face up there for no real reason and that leaves people wondering why?! Well done!
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:43 pm
That’s why I had to write this post. If people follow along my Project 365 they will know that I post a selfie each week, and it felt appropriate to go barefaced in light of this social media cause that, in my belief has helped to raise awareness for donating. x
Terry My Journey With Candida
March 20, 2014 @ 2:38 pm
You look great without makeup. I would scare a ghoul away. What a great idea the #nomakeupselfie is.
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
There are some that don’t agree, and everyone has their reasons :) That’s why I did my best to convey my thoughts in this post.
hannah staveley
March 20, 2014 @ 2:02 pm
Love this its a fantastic idea .x
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
I’ve always said, when it comes to charity, if everyone just donated a little, it would soon add up to a lot x
The 40 Year Old DG
March 20, 2014 @ 12:30 pm
Love this idea and have seen so many of them on other social networking sites, Well done hun xx
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
I think the fact that people are talking about it and hopefully, picking up their phone and donating it all goes to help xx
Victoria MyLittleLBlog
March 20, 2014 @ 11:55 am
i know everyone have their own opinion on that, but i personally dont understand how talk about cancer, taking selfies with help to cure it, how it will help those who are in pain..but once again each to their own
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 12:37 pm
I see it as raising awareness – be it cancer, a charity in need, a war torn country, another disease. Through that awareness I feel that people may then donate to a charity to help the cause. I have seen TV adverts and photographs over the years that have made me stop and think and then donate or find ways to help.
plasticrosaries
March 20, 2014 @ 11:46 am
I don’t ever wear make-up so I can’t really get involved with this despite seeing it everywhere. I have made a donation to my chosen cancer charity though as it’s good the awareness is out there again!
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
I agree – there are so many charities that need help from the public because they rely on the funding. I have always believed that you should donate to your charity of choice. x
Potty Mouthed Mum
March 20, 2014 @ 11:43 am
Wow you have lovely skin!! And I actually think if people are donating as they go, this is actually a powerful idea xxx
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 12:39 pm
I’m seeing so many more of these selfies with the information to donate, and when people are hating on them (which I’ve also seen) is how do you know – how do you know how they are or have been affected by cancer, how do you know if they donated or not? He who casts the first stone and all that! xxx
Amanda
March 20, 2014 @ 10:10 am
I do find these memes very confusing at times, but have to say I am glad that people are now sharing the information about cancer awareness along with their selfies (which many weren’t yesterday morning) as I didn’t know what was going on!
To be honest, I rarely wear make-up, but I understand for those who wear make-up every day it can be very empowering to do something like this. How did it make you feel?
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 10:24 am
Yesterday I kept seeing these selfies but no mention of any way to donate to cancer research, but soon enough, I was seeing them with donation info. I already mentioned the bra thing that goes round on FB every so often, which to me is just rubbish – it means nothing, just a cryptic bunch of words that make people think “wtf?” (at least, it does me!)
I wear make up nearly every day, unless I know for a fact I’m not seeing anyone or going out, so to be naked as it were, on my face, and to do it as part of a cause did empower me. And I get that same sense from many of my friends who’ve done the same #nomakeupselfie
Of course, unless you live under a rock, will be aware of cancer, and I’d imagine most people have been affected by it in one form or another. I’ve seen people question how does a selfie raise awareness, well it raised my awareness in giving me a number to text to and donate (BEAT to 70999 to donate £3), I saw all these faces, some with stories about how cancer has hit their lives, and again, it raised my awareness as to how the disease affects people. People that I know and people that I love, and people that I don’t know.
Sylvia Fiolunka
March 20, 2014 @ 11:06 am
I was confused at first about that whole no make up selfie idea :) Now as long as you actually donate something it’s worth showing your bare face ;) I might do the same as soon as they bring my network back :/
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 12:41 pm
I too was confused, and it was only when I saw the accompanying donation information and the happiness that the cancer charity had that people were donating because of it, that it reminded me that we should all be helping, in whatever way we can. They hadn’t started this “campaign” who knows sometimes where things on the internet start, but it has got people talking and donating and that can only be a good thing x
Twinsplustwo
March 20, 2014 @ 11:01 am
This is a far more constructive way of raising Cancer awareness than cryptic Facebook posts :) Well done for incorporating it into your 365 project post. You look great without make up! :)
Michelle Ordever
March 20, 2014 @ 11:06 am
To begin with I thought “WTF?” as there was no explanation of these photographs that people were sharing, but then, it became clearer as more people shared. If anything, this latest social media thing has got so many people talking about it, I believe it has helped to raise [more] awareness about cancer. x