Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker will be homeless again – for just one night – 17 years after suffering the same fate.
As a reporter for the Teesside Gazette back in 1999, Martin took to Stockton high street to pose as a beggar, as part of an under-cover feature on homelessness.
And in three weeks he will spend the night on the streets when he joins 60 other business people in raising money for charity.
Martin (above, right), along with DNA PR & Publicity owner Dave Allan (above, left), is organising CEO Sleepout on the Victorian Street at Preston Park Museum in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, on Thursday, May 12.
You can sponsor Martin by clicking here
Led by Teesside businessman and charity leader Andy Preston, CEO Sleepout UK is a national fundraising phenomenon that has already raised close to £1m to fight homelessness and poverty around the country.
Since the first CEO Sleepout outside Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium in 2013, business leaders have slept rough at a range of landmark venues, including Wembley Stadium, The Oval, Cardiff Castle, Newcastle’s St James Park, Birmingham’s Villa Park and Everton FC’s Goodison Park in Liverpool.
Along with Martin and Dave, those who are busy fundraising before taking part in the Preston Park event include Aycliffe councillor John Clare, as well as several well-known people from the Teesside business community.
Proceeds from the event will go towards funding a high-quality not-for-profit restaurant in Middlesbrough that will provide catering jobs for recovering addicts and alcoholics, those who have suffered from homelessness and those recently released from prison.
A share of the funds will also be donated to the charities chosen by outgoing Stockton mayor Ian Dalgarno, formerly regional director of Hertel, namely Butterwick Hospice, Daisy Chain and the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
• To sponsor Martin go to www.justgiving.com/Martin-Walker17
