Terry Waite in Medway to launch the biggest sleep out in the country
At 9pm on Saturday 26th January Terry Waite said goodnight to 180 people who slept outside in cardboard boxes to raise awareness of homelessness.
The giant sleep out in Chatham was organised by Kent based housing association mhs homes and was planned to coincide with National Homelessness Day on Sunday 27th.
The event raised over £25,000 which will be divided between Emmaus Medway and the Macmillan Cancer Care Unit at Medway.
Terry Waite launched the event by talking about his own experiences of feeling helpless and abandoned. He said that when he was a hostage he realised how hard it is to sleep rough;
"I spent five years in Beirut sleeping on the floor, not just for one night. So, I know just what it is like to be very cold and alone."
Many of the sleepers customised their cardboard boxes and the winner was selected by the Deputy Mayor Of Medway, Councillor Nick Bowler. He said;
"Although it was a fun night the sleepers wanted to highlight a very serious message in our society and have raised a fantastic amount of money for good causes too.”
More information
Terry Waite with some members of the Emmaus Medway steering group.
Published on 29th January, 2008
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