When it comes to children’s pain and suffering, I’m a sucker. So when I saw one of those heart-wrenching advertisements on TV asking people to sign up for the forty hour famine, I thought why not?
How hard could it be?
Signing up was simple; Stocking up on my barley sugars and Just Juice was easy too.
I was off to a good start, the Friday night was fine, and I was quite happy, chirpy even. It wasn’t until Saturday, when most of the food was out of my system, that the hunger pains started to kick in.
I tried to ignore them and keep myself busy by doing a variety of things; study, teach my self to knit, paint, go on the internet, but all I could think of was how hungry I was.
By Saturday night I was starting to get grumpy, irritable, sleepy and not very pleasant to be around.
Sunday morning I was ready to injure my brother just to get his piece of toast. When 11am, Sunday finally came and I was presented with a plate piled high with food, I ate it like I hadn’t seen food for months, and in reality I hadn’t even gone without food for two days.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to go for days, even weeks without food, at least while I was doing the famine, I knew I chose to do it and could stop at anytime if it got too much, there was always food in the cupboard.
I can’t even comprehend what it must be like to know that there is no food. I now have a new found respect for the kids who have to work and go about their lives all the while starving.
While it was not the greatest sensation I have experienced, it will be worth it if the money I raised with go to help just one child get a better quality of life.
You don’t have to wait for the famine to help out needy kids – head to www.worldvision.org.nz to find out what you can do to contribute.
I’m a sucker. So when I saw one of those heart-wrenching advertisements on TV asking people to sign up for the forty hour famine, I thought why not?