Released on: September 24, 2007, 9:24 am

Press Release Author: Jenna Weekes/RTCW

Industry: Non Profit

Press Release Summary: RTCW is urging the public to dig deep

Press Release Body: A CHILDREN'S charity experiencing a dramatic decline in
donations fears people may be suffering from compassion fatigue.

Round Table Children's Wish has seen a 30 per cent decline in donations and the
number of participants for challenges and charity runs is also falling. Fundraising
co-ordinators think people are becoming bewildered by the number of charities
seeking their support.

"I'm sure that compassion fatigue plays a part in this decline as does the squeeze
on people's spending power and rising interest rates" said Julie Atherton of Round
Table Children's Wish.

"Normally when donations decline we can relate it to a disaster such as the Tsunami,
when people rightly gave money for emergency aid. This year there's nothing specific
to divert cash but people just aren't giving as much."

Although Children's Wish had a buoyant year in 2006, thanks in part to the one-off
support from the Red Arrows display, this year's donations are down 30 per cent.
This has seen them running at a deficit each month and having to dip into reserves
to ensure all wishes can be granted.

Julie added: "We know people are bombarded with requests from lots of charities but
wish referrals from poorly children continue to flood in and, without support from
the public, their childhood wishes may not come true. That would be devastating."

Round Table Children's Wish has charity places for events, such as the Women's
HydroActive 5km run in September, the Great South Run and the London Marathon. But
finding enough runners to take part is proving difficult and many of those struggle
to raise enough sponsorship.

To take part in an event or to make a donation contact Julie on 01202 514515.


Web Site: http://www.rtcw.org

Contact Details: Round Table Children\'s Wish (RTCW)
857 Wimborne Road
Bournemouth
Dorset, BH9 2BQ
01202 514515