# Diabetes UK introduces fancy dress Halloween fundraising event

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/10/22/diabetes-uks-introduces-fancy-dress-halloween-fundraising-event/
- Published: 2015-10-22T09:20:45+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Scary clowns and crazed pirates have brought to life the horrors of office life
in a series of new videos promoting Diabetes UK’s new Halloween event, Dress Diabolical.**

The charity is daring people to ‘[Dress Diabolical for Halloween](http://dressdiabolical.diabetes.org.uk)‘,
wearing their most terrifying outfits on Friday 30 October to raise funds. It is
the first non-active mass participation event for the charity, and it is targeting
offices, colleges and schools. It takes place the day before Halloween so that people
can take part at their office or school.

![Dress Diabolical for Diabetes UK](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/
2015/10/diabetes-uk-dress-diabolical-clown.jpg)

Diabetes UK’s chief executive Chris Askew dresses diabolically for the charity’s
new Halloween fundraising campaign.

The videos were filmed at the charity’s headquarters in Camden, London. The scary
clown is played by the charity’s chief executive Chris Askew.

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They conclude with the caption board: “Work can be scary… diabetes doesn’t have 
to be.”

As well as promoting sign-ups for the event itself, the video includes the invitation
to text to donate £5, by texting DUK to 70123.

**Editor’s note:** _the video previously embedded here (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=aGMILNL\_KGU) is no longer available._

The event has the backing of Tim Burton, the director of ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Edward 
Scissorhands’ and ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. He said:

> “The strange picture of ghosts, goblins, pirates and vampires walking the streets
> of the UK appeals to me on many levels. That it’s to raise money for a good cause
> is even better. I hope everyone gets creative, and that Dress Diabolical is a 
> big success, raising plenty of money for Diabetes UK.”

The charity is one of several asking people to check what fabrics have been used
in their costumes as synthetic fabrics can be flammable.

![Dress Diabolical for Diabetes UK](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/
2015/10/diabetes-uk-dress-diabolical-ghost.jpg)

A Diabetes UK staff member joins the Halloween fun.

Svetlana Kirov, director of fundraising at Diabetes UK, said:

> “These videos were great fun to make and were the perfect practice run for getting
> dressed up this Halloween. With the increasing popularity of Halloween, we think
> this is an event that people will enjoy getting involved in because it will give
> all of us an excuse to get dressed up”.
> “The money raised will help us to continue our work for the 3.9 million people
> currently living with diabetes as we continue our work to prevent and, one day,
> cure the condition.”
> With Halloween falling on Saturday 31 October this year, Dress Diabolical is taking
> place on Friday 30 October so that people can embrace the fun and dress up at 
> work and in schools and colleges.