A team of four intrepid adventurers from Inspire are looking to take on their next challenge…sleeping rough to help raise awareness of homelessness, as part of YMCA Bournemouth’s BIG Sleep Easy event.
In a twist to the event – which in previous years has been held at Chapel Gate in Bournemouth, but with the Covid restrictions just wasn’t possible this year – the organisers asked participants to come up with their own locations to sleep in a cardboard shelter for the night of Saturday 17 October, raising money to support the YMCA’s work.
Craig Coda, Jack Littlecott, Jake Daniels and James Miller decided to set themselves an even greater challenge, so will be heading out to the New Forest next weekend to complete a 20 mile hike, before sleeping overnight in their cardboard box shelters.
Jake, who took part in last year’s BIG Sleep Easy event, and has organised Inspire’s participation for this year, said: “We’re really excited to be taking part in the challenge again this year. It’s a shame that the main event can’t be held in the same way as before, due to the restrictions, but we took the opportunity to think what else we could do to get involved.
“Craig, Jack, James and I are keen to raise awareness of homelessness in Dorset and also much-needed funds for this really important cause, especially as we approach the cold and isolating winter months.
“As a team, we’re always up for a challenge, so we decided that rather than camp out in our gardens for the BIG Sleep Easy, we’d head out to the New Forest, do a day’s hike and then settle down at a campsite in our cardboard shelters.”
YMCA’s ultimate goal is to help the hundreds of homeless people in Dorset who are sleeping rough each night, to achieve independent living and secure a positive long-term future.
You can find out more about team Inspire’s BIG Sleep Easy challenge and how you can support YMCA’s work here.