An estimated 35.3 million people in the world are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately half of that number are women and about 3.3 million of those people are children. It’s a devastating disease, but we can fight it through diagnosis, treatment, and education. The Big 24 is a non-profit, fandom-run, charity fundraiser whose goal is to help do just that.
What is it?
The Big 24 is a live, 24-hour broadcast featuring your favourite fandom personalities. Think of it like an old-fashioned variety show. Each hour will be hosted by someone in fandom. During each hour, the audience will be entertained (with music, games, discussions, watch alongs, etc.) and will, hopefully, offer donations to our cause, raising HIV/AIDS awareness, treatment, and prevention funding to 3rd world countries via the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.
Since we are a multi-fandom fundraiser, we will be doing our best to find hosts from all the major fandoms we can. Each hour will feature a different fandom and a different activity to keep you entertained and having fun. To see a list of last year’s activities and hosts so you can get an idea of what we do, visit this link.
In addition to the live broadcast, The Big 24 will be hosting a fandom auction on our community journal in an effort to raise even more for the cause. For more details, please visit the auction masterpost on our website page.
When is it?
Round 2 will be held from 12 noon EDT/5pm BST on the 14th of June to 12 noon EDT/5pm BST on the 15th of June.
Where is it?
The show will be broadcast in our tinychat room for the full 24 hours. Tinychat provides multiple video capabilities as well as real-time chat functions and Youtube steaming capabilities for a fun, engaging atmosphere.
What can you do to help?
Hosting
Right now, first and foremost, we’re looking for people to host hours. The show itself is 24 hours straight, but each segment is only an hour-long slot. If you love your fandom, don’t mind being on camera, and can donate an hour of your time, please fill out the following information and email it to fandomhelpmod@gmail.com:
- Name/Pseuds: (How you’d like to be known)
- Email you check regularly: (We need to be able to contact you with your assigned time slot and in case anything changes or comes up)
- Fandom(s):
- What times (in EDT) are you available?: (please provide all blocks of times for easier scheduling)
- Please list the type of activities/events you’d like to host: (meta hour, cosplay hour, music hour, etc)
- Available for Pinch Hit an hour in case someone else no-shows?:
- If yes, what hours (in EDT) are you free to cover?: (again, please include all possible times)
Prizes and Items for Auction
One of the events we host is a fandom quest quiz/treasure hunt. People who donate and participate in the quiz will be entered into a lottery draw for said prizes. If you have anything you can offer as a prize, it would be a huge help to us. For example, last year the lovely obsidianserpent donated a host of breathtaking oil paintings on canvas which we then auctioned off and gave away to prize winners.
In addition to the show, we run an auction. Anyone who can offer something is encouraged to do so. This could be fic, art, fandom merch, or even miscellaneous items such as a “box of _insert your country here_”. The auction will open on May 17th so that people have plenty of time to post their offerings and to bid on them. It will close on the 15th of June when the broadcast ends and winning bids will be announce soon thereafter.
Spread the Word
If you’re not in a position to host or offer prizes, reblogging and posting about the event can do wonders for our cause. The more people know about it, the bigger and more exciting the event, and the more money we can raise for it. There are banners here which you can repost and use to get the word out. Anything you can do is helpful.
Last year, The Big 24 raised just under $1000 in 24 hours. This year, we hope you’ll help us raise even more and, as a fandom, help us fight this epidemic.
Well HEY, here’s a thing that deserves more exposure!
This is a multi-fandom event that looks like it’s gonna be hella fun. Plus, the auctions are going on NOW, so if you see things you like, get on those before they close!