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Check out where you can buy the most popular authentic charity wristbands
From schoolchildren to celebrities, the charity wristband has become the latest must-have fashion accessory for young and old, rich and famous alike.
David Beckham wears a blue one, Bono wears a white one, even Tony Blair has taken to wearing a pink one. They are the distinctive fashion craze that has also raised millions of pounds for UK charities.
But now it's not only criminals have cottoned on to the craze and have begun to flood the market with cheap, knock-off versions to cash in. Now market traders are selling authentic charity wristbands - make poverty history, NSPCC - on their stalls and making a profit out of them. A large proportion of the money from their sale should be going straight to charity not into the pockets of the market traders.
Below is a guide to some of the more popular wristband charities and remember it's important to buy your wristbands from reputable retail outlets where the money goes directly to the charity. If you're not sure that the money will go to the charity don't buy the wristband.
A starter's guide to some of the more popular charities:
Pink: Breast Cancer Care
The £1 pink bands can be purchased individually through their website opposite and from Dorothy Perkins. When you look at the band, it has the Breast Cancer Care web address on it and also the words "Support Knowledge Strength".
White: Make Poverty History
The £1 white bands can be purchased from Oxfam shops and Save the Children shops. You can also purchase them through the website opposite. To make sure the cost of the band goes to the charity buy it from an official outlet.
Blue: Beat Bullying
Bands costs £2.50 and will be made available online at the website opposite - check their website for more details. Please note these are different to the blue bands given away for free by Radio One in November last year as part of the beat bullying onelife campaign. To make sure you get one keep checking the website.
Red: Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK
The striking red bands have just been released, bearing the inscription "Bobby Moore 1966". Bobby Moore died of bowel cancer and all the money raised by the £1 band will go back to Cancer Research UK to fund their work. Bands are available to buy from all Burtons stores nationwide.
Black and White: Anti-racism
Currently sold out, but more are in production and will be available imminently. This double band can be bought for £1.50 from JJB, JD Sports and Nike Town stores. To guarantee that all proceeds go to the anti-racism campaign make sure you buy from these recognised outlets.
Red: British Heart Foundation
£1 suggested donation. The bands are only available at BHF shops and are not sold online. So far, the BHF have sold in excess of 170,000 wrist bands.
Light blue: Prostate cancer
The Prostate Cancer Charity has released a light blue wristband embossed with "Know About It", encouraging men to find out more about the risks. They cost £1 and 25p goes directly to the charity, see their website for more details.
Green: Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre
The band costs £1.50.
Purple: Cystic Fibrosis Trust
The bands cost £1 each.
Places to buy
There are many shop retailers who sell bands on behalf of charities, such as Nike, Dorothy Perkins, Oxfam and Entertainer stores.
However website-only shops and street sellers are more likely to sell fakes where none of the money goes to charity. If in doubt, ask before you buy.
Find out which celebrities are wearing what in our gallery of wristband-wearing stars.
