What happens when you sponsor some clown who has a fantastic idea to run a marathon, gets a loads of sponsorship, then realises as it's quire a lot of training so doesn't; bother?
Ironically the OP answers this question himself...
The Clamp said:I'm saddened it's so rife. Especially given the word sponsor has Latin roots in "to trust".
The money goes; you've given it on the basis of trust that they will complete the walk/marathon/whatever.
If the kids have to walk door-to-door twice just to get the sponsorship, the walk will fast become more than 5 miles. Plenty here will fall on either side of the debate I'm sure, but I'm completely with the OP's missus on this one.