Forget fashion and embrace fun this September as people across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to dig out their loudest, brightest and most outrageous shirts for the inaugural Bad Shirt Friday, taking place on Friday 4 September, in aid of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The campaign has a simple message: Wear. Share. Donate.
Supporters are being invited to wear their favourite bad shirt to a fundraising gig taking place in First Presbyterian Church, Rosemary Street, Belfast, on the evening of Friday 4th, to wear a bad shirt to work, school, college or wherever they happen to be on the day, including when nipping out for a coffee, meeting friends for dinner or going down to the pub.
Organisers of the initiative are suggesting that people just need to simply wear the shirt, take a photo or create a short video for sharing on social media and make a donation to Muscular Dystrophy UK or Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. Participants are encouraged to tag friends, family and colleagues to join the challenge, helping spread awareness of muscular dystrophy while raising vital funds to support those living with the condition.
Whether it’s a clashing Hawaiian print, an eye-watering floral number, a retro masterpiece or the most questionable shirt lurking at the back of the wardrobe, every bad shirt has the power to make a difference.
Organiser Ben Collins of Chambré hopes the initiative will become an annual celebration of fun, community and generosity. He said: “Bad Shirt Friday aims to spark conversations about muscular dystrophy, a group of genetic conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness and disability, while creating a fun and inclusive fundraising event that everyone can take part in.
“Funds raised will help Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and Muscular Dystrophy UK continue providing essential services, advocacy, information and support for individuals and families affected by neuromuscular conditions throughout the country. We want people to have fun while helping raise awareness of muscular dystrophy and fundraising to support families living with these life-changing conditions.”
He added: “This is a way to build on the wonderful atmosphere Belfast recently experienced with the Fleadh. Imagine the vibrancy in offices, schools, libraries, coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, shops and sports clubs in communities everywhere where people are coming together to be united by one colourful day of fun and fundraising. I believe that together, we can build something that shines a spotlight on muscular dystrophy.”
Bad Shirt Friday
Duchenne does not recognise borders, and neither should our commitment to the people and families living with it. Funds raised through Bad Shirt Friday will support the work of both Muscular Dystrophy UK and Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, helping to make a difference to families on both sides of the border.
Julia Smith, Senior Community Fundraising Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “A massive thank you to Ben for organising this brilliant fundraising initiative. What a fun and easy way to support both charities and raise money to fund groundbreaking research and life-changing support for people affected by muscle wasting conditions. We hope lots of people will get involved and help make the day a great success. We can’t wait to see the photos!”
Alan Breathnach, Chief Executive Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland said: “Charity has no boundaries. Whether you are in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Derry or anywhere in between, putting on a terrible shirt, sharing a photograph and making a donation is a simple way to stand together with families affected by Duchenne.
“We hope people will embrace the fun of Bad Shirt Friday, but also recognise the powerful message behind it: when we work together across communities and across borders, we can raise awareness, raise funds and, ultimately, raise the voice of the Duchenne community.”
On Friday, 4 September, don’t dress to impress, just dress to make a difference. Wear your bad shirt. Share your photo. Donate what you can. Challenge others to do the same. Together, we can turn terrible fashion into life-changing support.
For tickets to the Bad Shirt Friday charity gig priced at £10, with The Bonnevilles as headline act supported by Stafel, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bad-shirt-friday-charity-gig-tickets-1996264586115
To donate: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/bencollins or
https://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/get-involved/donate/
Every shared photo and every donation help spread awareness of muscular dystrophy and supports the work of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and Muscular Dystrophy UK.
