Big Sleep raises over £45,000

Alabaré’s Helen Inglis says:

“On behalf of all at Alabaré, I would like to say a huge Thank You for the tremendous support we have received for our recent Big Sleep at Home. Instead of our flagship fund-raising Big Sleep at Salisbury Cathedral, we asked supporters to take part at home and we have been absolutely bowled over with the response.

“Over 200 people signed up to take part from Wiltshire, Dorset and Gloucestershire, into Wales and as far away as Scotland! We have had stories of people sleeping out on a freezing night under the stars, in churches, in sheds, on a trampoline, on sitting room floors, and several children spent the night in the bath!

“Many people logged in to our online activities during the evening, which included music, interviews and quizzes. A picturebook about an elephant being made homeless, ‘Elvis a Tale of Kindness and Hope’ by Helen May Brian was read, and Salisbury author Barney Norris read an extract from his novel ‘5 Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain’. The evening ended with a blessing by Bishop Andrew.

“Many churches across the Diocese took part and we are hugely grateful to all those who have supported us so generously. Sponsorship money is still coming in, but to date I am delighted to be able to announce that we have raised over £45,000, which far exceeds our expectations.”

Sheila Warrander, a member of St Thomas’s Salisbury said:

“I would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, prayers and generous donations. I decided to take part as part of my 80th birthday celebrations and I slept in my cellar. I had cardboard to sleep on and 2 sleeping bags, luckily there were no mice or spiders, that I saw, so that was good."