PayPal and Aardman's Interactive Christmas Turkey Dash is Powered by Charity Donations

Today the first videos from the campaign have been revealed, including Scarlett Moffatt’s transformation into an Aardman character. Scarlett is seen helping the turkeys with their training regime, and encouraging viewers to get behind a good cause by making a donation.

The donation drive starts on 28th November to mark Giving Tuesday – a global event that has been dubbed the antidote to Black Friday, and encourages people to do a good deed for charity. The campaign will run nationwide across broadcast, online and social media for two weeks, after which the final donation results will be brought to life in the animated sprint on Channel 4. Turkey Dash will be presented by TV personality Steve Jones and broadcast during Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast on 15th December.

Scarlett Moffatt says: “I love watching Aardman's films. I mean, who hasn’t grown up watching Wallace and Gromit? So to become one of their animations myself is amazing, and what makes it even better is it’s all for charity - in fact eight amazing charities." 

Alison Sagar, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Consumer at PayPal UK, explains: “With Turkey Dash, we wanted to show the power of online payments to do good. Last Christmas, more than a million people in the UK made a donation to their favourite cause with PayPal. This year, we want to encourage even more donations! We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to inspire our customers, and show them all the ways they can use PayPal. We think we’ve got something really special this year thanks to the combined efforts of eight incredible charities, Aardman, and Channel 4.”

All donations made to the eight charities taking part in Turkey Dash will be processed through PayPal Giving Fund UK, a registered not-for-profit organisation that uses technology to help charities find new supporters and raise funds in a safe and secure way. PayPal Giving Fund UK does not charge charities any fees for enrolling or receiving donations, ensuring they receive every single penny, including Gift Aid. 

Aardman director Darren Dubicki comments: “Who doesn’t love the idea of animated turkeys? With Turkey Dash, we’re playing to the great British sense of humour we all share, while encouraging people to dig deep for a good cause. We’ll be working on the animation right up until race day, which will be a little nerve wracking!”

Angus Mitchell, Agency Principal at Channel 4, says: “We’re really proud of this latest collaboration with PayPal and that they’ve chosen Channel 4 as the exclusive broadcast partner. Aardman’s fantastic creative will engage Channel 4 viewers in this innovative campaign for a great cause across a key time of year.”

The eight charities participating in Turkey Dash are: 

• Blue Cross, www.bluecross.org.uk – helping thousands of sick, injured, homeless and abandoned pets and their owners every month. Pets change lives. We change theirs.

• CLIC Sargent, www.clicsargent.org.uk – the UK’s leading cancer support charity for children, young people and their families.

• LGBT Foundation, www.lgbt.foundation – delivering life changing services and securing a safe, equal and healthy future for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. 

• Mental Health Foundation, www.mentalhealth.org.uk – dedicated to finding and addressing the sources of mental health problems.

• The Royal British Legion, www.britishlegion.org.uk – providing lifelong support for our Armed Forces community, including Serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution, www.rnli.org – the charity that saves lives at sea, with volunteer lifeboat crews providing a 24-hour rescue service at 238 lifeboat stations and lifeguards on more than 240 beaches.

• Save the Children, www.christmasjumperday.org – making the world better with a sweater by doing whatever it takes to save children and transform futures.

• Sue Ryder, www.sueryder.org – providing hospice and neurological care for people facing a frightening, life-changing diagnosis.

To make a donation or for more information on Turkey Dash visit www.turkeydash.co.uk