Charity wristband bonanza

All aboard the bracelet bandwagon

In 2004, Lance Armstrong's 'LiveStrong' yellow charity wristbands set a new trend in charity fundraising. Since then, various charities have created their own versions: Oxfam has produced Make Poverty History white canvas bands with black clasps, available online (£1 each, 100 for £10), via mobiles (£1.50 plus cost of your text) and in Oxfam shops. Do you know someone affected by cancer? The blue rubber Fear Nothing bracelet (with a proportion of the proceeds going to The Cancer Society) can be pre-ordered now with stock expected at the end of February (£2.99 from IWantItCheaper.com) and pink Breast Cancer Foundation bracelets proclaiming 'Share Beauty Spread Hope' are available from amazon.com ($10). Even Nike is getting in on the act, issuing its own anti-racist versions, with Arsenal's Thierry Henry and Man United's Rio Ferdinand temporarily ceasing hostilities to support it.

Buyer beware, however: ensure that wherever you're buying from, there is some guarantee of the cash going to the authentic charitable cause. There have been many limited edition charity wristbands up for grabs on ebay for inflated prices, with the profit (and postage costs) not benefiting the charity at all.