A Tees headquartered national charity is calling on Teesside business owners, directors and executives to sleep out for one night in the fight against local poverty and homelessness.
Middlesbrough-based CEO Sleepout is looking for leaders and teams from Teesside’s most compassionate businesses who are willing to get sponsored to give up the comfort of their own bed for just one night sleeping under the stars.
Following two successful events on the outdoor Victorian Street within Preston Park Museum, Stockton Council has again agreed to make the unique setting available for an event organisers promise will make a lasting impact on all participants.
Fundraisers are allowed to bring along a sleeping bag and mat, while warm clothes are recommended. There will also be access to hot drinks and toilets throughout the night.
Since founder-chairman Andy Preston held the first CEO Sleepout outside Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium four years ago, events have been held at iconic venues across the country.
Sleepout events have been held at Wembley Stadium, The Oval, Lord’s Cricket Ground, Newcastle’s St James’ Park, Birmingham’s Villa Park, Everton’s Goodison Park and at Durham Cathedral.
This year CEO Sleepout Teesside also involves a first-ever Team Challenge – with teams from Tees organisations invited to a fundraising race.
The first to sign up for the Teesside Teams Challenge are Watson Woodhouse Solicitors and Macks Solicitors, who are both aiming to raise more funds than their rival teams.
CEO Sleepout organiser Bianca Robinson said: “We’re aware that many local businesspeople have already taken part in a CEO Sleepout event, which is now a much anticipated fixture on the Teesside business calendar.
“This time we’re asking them to join us again and make it even more fun by bringing along their business team for this special challenge.
“We promise participants they’ll have an unusual and memorable night – and meet some fascinating individuals, all of whom have given up one night of comfort to help others.
Among those also committed to taking part in this year’s event is Janet McGuigan, a management consultant for Deloitte, who has agreed to take part in every sleepout across the country that any of her colleagues sign up to do.
Others who will take part in the event at Preston Park Museum include Jimmy Watson (Watson Woodhouse Solicitors), Anthony McCarthy (Macks Solicitors), Dave Allan (Tees Business), Liam and Jordan Nixon (Northern Safety Supplies), Mike Styan (Course Box), Marie Kilgallon (Marie Kilgallon Associates), Warren Harrison (Teesside University), Matthew Telling (RMS Resource Solutions), Paul Drake and Matty Hynes (Sapere Software) and Kevin Dawson (Dynamic Mobile Billing).
- CEO Sleepout Teesside takes place at Preston Park Museum on the night of Monday, November 12. To register your team, visit com/middlesbrough
Caption to photograph:
Bianca Robinson of CEO Sleepout on the Victorian Street at Preston Park Museum with some of the first to sign up for an event raising funds to fight local poverty and homelessness. Those pictured include: Jimmy Watson (Watson Woodhouse Solicitors), Anthony McCarthy (Macks Solicitors), Dave Allan (Tees Business), Warren Harrison (Teesside University), Liam Nixon (Northern Safety Supplies) and Marie Kilgallon (Marie Kilgallon Associates).