This is the reason you went into direct response

May 12th, 2015 - A major earthquake has struck eastern Nepal, two weeks after more than 8,000 people died in a devastating quake. Scientists predict more quakes in Nepal – their only uncertainty is: when?

Like you probably were, I was moved to ask myself if there was anything I could do to help. Then I realised I had the perfect opportunity.

I am one of the lucky copywriters to get a scholarship to attend the DMA Future Writers’ Laboratory. Our course project is to show the power of one-to-one-to-millions marketing by concepting, creating and implementing an idea in one month. It struck me that Nepal and the harrowing devastation on the ground is the chance for me to not only to prove the power of direct response, but also the value of the direct response community and their skills.

After all, the Nepali people need a response in their crises, and who better to turn to than the people who make a living doing just that.

So I’m calling on you to help. The experts. The responsible minds. The instigators. To do what you do best. To use your knowledge, your experience and your connections to make an impact where it’s needed most.

Let’s show the industry what we’re capable of.

Over the next 14 days, your mission is to put your skills to the test, and get as many people as possible to respond in big ways and small. How? I leave that up to you.

But all your efforts should drive to the Nepalese Children’s Trust - http://nepalesechildrenstrust.co.uk/

The Nepalese Children’s Trust is rebuilding schools, clinics and is providing emergency shelter and medical help that is so desperately needed. My partner, Liz and I are working directly with the organisation, so all donations go straight to the cause.

Our aim? To raise £10,000 in two weeks.

If every DMA Member raised just £5 each, together we’d contribute almost £5000 (which is over 800,000 Nepali rupees!) And just think what could be possible if we used our influence among all our connections and communities. We’ll track our collective impact at #respondnepal.

Just imagine the headline in Campaign, “DMA members raise £10,000 in a record 14 days for Nepal and shows the industry what direct response can really do.”

No go. Do. Act. After all, who better to respond than you?