Sub-zero slumber

I had a chilly night last weekend braving the cold weather on the 26th January 2008 to raise money for charity and raise awareness of Homelessness on National Homelessness Sunday 27th January.

The sleep-out was hosted by MHS homes group and took part in Chatham in Kent. I joined 180 other sleepers who took part to raise money for the Emmaus Medway Community project which seeks to tackle the problems of homelessness through a self-supporting Medway community and Macmillan Cancer Relief who have launched a new appeal to raise over £1 million to help build a cancer care unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.

MHS Homes Group contacted Helpiammoving.com Ltd to see if Helpineedboxes.co.uk could supply cardboard boxes for people to use to sleep out in over night. I thought this was a very good cause, so volunteered to join in as well as supply moving boxes.

Armed with a dozen cardboard moving boxes I swapped my comfortable bed to sleep my collection of boxes in the shape of a F1 car. Complete with driver and steering wheel the boxes looked quite good and we even won a prize on the evening. I was amazed with the other designs, everything from a church to an Ipod all made from cardboard boxes.

Terry Waite who supports the Emmaus Medway Community project came down to offer his support to the sleep out.

Although a chilly night as wind blew from the Medway, the hot tea kept everybody warm until it was time to go to sleep. My moving boxes turned out to be warmer than it was outside but very snug, I couldn't even roll over. I did fall asleep on and off but it is amazing how vulnerable you feel. Every little noise and movement was met with the need to listen intently for more.

The event was an ideal opportunity to raise not only money for these two charities but also raise awareness of homelessness and help those in genuine need and we all raised over £25,000 for both charities.