# Which charities made the most of the solar eclipse?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/03/20/which-charities-made-the-most-of-the-solar-eclipse/
- Published: 2015-03-20T10:44:24+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The partial solar eclipse across the UK this morning gathered a great deal of 
publicity and attention. Did charities and fundraisers exploit the opportunity, 
especially online?**

The #SolarEclipse hashtag was a pretty safe one to use since there were no corporate
brand or intellectual copyright issues to be concerned about. The newsworthy story–
it was being carried live on several TV networks – could also be used in many ways
by charities. Issues such as darkness and blindness, diamond rings and conflict 
diamonds, solar power and energy, space/science education, eye health and sight 
restoration, and air pollution could all reasonably be linked to the event. “Dark
days” and “the lights going out” are also common fundraising campaign metaphors.

And of course, there was the humorous element of Britons standing under cloudy skies,
missing out on the full glory of the event.

## Advertisement

Plus, we knew that the eclipse was going to produce a happy smile-like image. That
would have been a lovely image for charities to share with their supporters. Even
better, the eclipse fell on [International Happiness Day](http://www.dayofhappiness.net/)!

Here are some of the tie-ins we spotted from charities and their supporters. If 
you’ve got one to add, post it in the comments below.

_[RNIB tweet at https://twitter.com/RNIB/status/578854804975419392 no longer available]_

> Waiting for the [#eclipse](https://x.com/hashtag/eclipse?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)?
> Why not pledge to our Kickstarter while you wait [http://t.co/2uUPtAOu3X](http://t.co/2uUPtAOu3X)
> — Katie Day is now on bsky @otherwayworks (@otherwayworks) [March 20, 2015](https://x.com/otherwayworks/status/578853283030241280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

_[Tweet by Devon Air Ambulance at https://twitter.com/devonairamb/status/578853161693290498
no longer available]._  

> The ever optimistic [@ifundraiser](https://x.com/ifundraiser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> showing us how to get the most out of the [#eclipse2015](https://x.com/hashtag/eclipse2015?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> experience. [pic.twitter.com/wmaUQ5xgdF](http://t.co/wmaUQ5xgdF)
> — SolarAid (@SolarAid) [March 20, 2015](https://x.com/SolarAid/status/578855567982227456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> We were fortunate to get some amazing footage of the team watching the [#eclipse2015](https://x.com/hashtag/eclipse2015?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> Truly inspiring stuff [https://t.co/xVq7t8Ovdm](https://t.co/xVq7t8Ovdm)
> — SolarAid (@SolarAid) [March 20, 2015](https://x.com/SolarAid/status/578855943821213698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> From Woodlands Hospice Gardens [#SolarEclipse2015](https://x.com/hashtag/SolarEclipse2015?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/AtbH1wDaHU](http://t.co/AtbH1wDaHU)
> — Woodlands Hospice (@WeAreWoodlands) [March 20, 2015](https://x.com/WeAreWoodlands/status/578856893118083073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Been renting out these glasses in the office to look at the eclipse. Made £25 
> for [@macmillancancer](https://x.com/macmillancancer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 👍👍
> [pic.twitter.com/Jrtrf1vRAh](http://t.co/Jrtrf1vRAh)
> — Claire (@claireabell79) [March 20, 2015](https://x.com/claireabell79/status/578855307268513793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 If you missed this ‘newsjacking’ opportunity, don’t worry: you’ve got 11 years
to prepare for the next partial solar eclipse in the UK!    _[Editor’s update 12
August 2026 – original main photo: [partial solar eclipse](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-129800216/stock-photo-solar-eclipse-january-th.html)
by PHB.cz (Richard Semik) on Shutterstock.com]_