Street Collection

If the ailing airline carriers can afford to fly me between airports for 13 pence per kilometre, even though it takes far more staff, security, fuel, maintenance and general effort in the airports and in the air aboard the plane itself, than to run... say a train and the stations it would stop at along the way, why is it that train companies think they have any right to charge me in the region of 25 pence per kilometre to use their grimy service? These were exactly my thoughts when I decided not to pay for my train to Manchester Piccadilly on Wednesday.

Steph and I rendezvoused with Harriet and a dozen other Hitchers headquartered in a BHS café in Manchester city centre complete with Hitch T-shirts and flyers. We picked up our collection buckets and wandered into the unfamiliar street to look for a place that wasn’t already occupied by a charity worker, whom I imagined, were all equipped with weapons for just such a competition. I always feel incredibly rude when I find myself being dismissive of people asking me for money in the high street. I never really realised just how much the general public hate being asked for a trace amount of altruism. Between having to listen to people offended at the concept of a charity that works for foreigners, the angry ranting of the ignorant that seem to think that the economic problems of this country are even remotely comparable to those of a third world country, and the racist that said he always helps out his own people back in Africa, before derisively accusing me of being somehow personally responsible for the slave trade that occurred almost two centuries before my birth; there were quite a few great people I got to meet around the town.

Surprisingly, we met quite a few Hitchers from previous years that stopped for a chat, they wouldn’t let me convince them to do the Hitch again, but it was really cool talking to someone who had been in my shoes. Steph really built up her confidence, speaking to all of these complete strangers for a few hours, and we had some fun walking around looking for people who look generous. We came up with the mnemonic: “If he’s wearing a tie, he’d rather you die.” because business men were the worst. They try their absolute hardest not to acknowledge your existence even when you’re running alongside them shouting the name on the corporate ID card hanging around their neck.

Again, I’ve been incredibly absent minded and it didn’t occur to me to take any photos of the whole thing, so I’m going to have to find a way to remind myself in future. I also have no idea how much we raised. The reps are counting it up and sending it off and will let me know soon, so if you want to find out, you should probably click here to subscribe.  Hitch registration is now closed, but any help raising funds is still more than welcome.