A team of colleagues braved the cold and damp on Friday night to sleep under the stars in aid of YMCA Derbyshire’s 2018 ‘Sleep Easy’ challenge – and helped to raise almost £3,000 for the charity in the process.
Our team of 10 spent the night in cardboard boxes and sleeping bags at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, as they braved the elements.
It was a fantastic fundraising effort and made the 12-hour challenge worthwhile.
It was freezing cold and extremely damp, but strong team spirit and good banter kept our morale high as we watched the sun come up on a beautiful morning in Derby.
The cash we raised – which totals more than £3,700 when Gift Aid is taken into account – will go directly to the charity’s Safe Front Door campaign, which enables YMCA Derbyshire to continue providing safe accommodation, opportunities for young people to engage in positive activities, work experience and volunteer opportunities.
The event saw more than 100 volunteers from a host of great Derby businesses take part, which will enable the charity to provide more than 150 beds each night, and accommodate more than 300 people during the rest of the year, as well as continuing to support residents and young people in need of its services to rebuild their lives and help eliminate youth homelessness.
A huge well done to our Sleep Easy team of Managing Director Guy Eaton, Operations Director Paul White, Director Ann Kerwood, Project Manager Anabelle Parslow, Draftsman Ben Dorrington, Production Engineer Jake Roberts, Warehouse Management and staff Iain Hunt, Matt Sudbury and Danny Melbourne, and Fabricator Sean Inger.
Guy said: “On Event Production Co is a socially-responsible business, so it was great to be able to bring the team together to give something back to our community.
“It was dark, it was cold, it was damp, but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. In fact, it made us even more determined to complete the challenge for such a great local cause.
“It was an eye-opener which gave us all a real insight into the type of conditions that those who find themselves in difficult circumstances have to face on a daily basis.
“YMCA Derbyshire does such vital work with vulnerable young adults in the city and across the county and is a cause that is close to all our hearts here at On.”
You can still support the team’s efforts by making a donation online.