quicko: 40 hour famine

It seems that Australians have stronger (longer lasting?) stomachs than Americans -- they take part in 40, not 30, hour famines for charity.

Hmm, charity. I feel like that's a word us Americans know, but somehow it's not as politically correct as it could be to use. Like it carries a connotation of pity and looking down on people, instead of merely being benevolent, as I think it usually sounds here. Not sure what word we actually would use more -- I think we'd just name a specific charity. Or maybe there is another word?