ShelterBox
Sat, Aug 31st 2013 at 12:00 am - 12:00 am
Tents like these were erected in Kidwells Park Maidenhead as part of a fund raising exercise by inviting guests to 'sleep over', many Rotarian's volunteered.
ROTARY BIG SLEEP OUT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS
Fifteen members from Maidenhead Bridge Rotary, Maidenhead Thames Rotary, Maidenhead Rotary, Maidenhead Rotaract and one lucky member of the public braved the downpour and thunder on Saturday night and took on the challenge of The Big Sleep Out.
As part of Maidenhead Festival, Rotary in Maidenhead organised the first ever Big Sleep Out in aid of the charity ShelterBox, raising awareness and much needed funds for this excellent charity. An event that saw 10 tents erected in Kidwells Park to make a ShelterBox Village with people sleeping in all of them.
Every year millions of people are made homeless by natural and manmade disasters. ShelterBox responds by delivering boxes of aid, and is often among the first aid agencies on the scene. Each box provides a family with emergency shelter and other vital equipment for them to use, such as blankets, water purification, tool bags and cooking equipment; while they are displaced or homeless.
Not only did the brave 15 stay in the tents, they also had the challenge of putting them up earlier in the day, a simple task you may think, but it would appear not to be that simple after all! It took at least six people per tent to erect due to their size, but after the first three the team soon got the hang of it!
All four Presidents of the clubs took part and, along with the others, had a great time and lots of fun. Of course the purpose of the event was not only to have fun but also to raise money and the group are pleased to say they've raised at least £700 with more sponsorship still to come in.
Chris Chugg, a member of Maidenhead Thames Rotary Club who liaised with Shelterbox for the event, said "We had so much fun that were looking forward to doing it all over again next year".
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