Sleepout raises homelessness awareness
The organiser of a sleep out at Askamore Hall hopes the event will raise €3,000 for Focus Ireland.
Jason Keogh, who is from the village, decided to organise the event after reading statistics indicating that one-in-four people who are homeless are children aged 4 and under.
‘I have a little one myself who is 4-yearsof-age and I suppose it struck a chord and I decided to do something to help,’ he told this newspaper.
‘Fourteen people took part in the sleep out which we did in the hall,’ he added.
‘I suppose I just wanted to see what could be done to help it [support] along.’
Mr Keogh was full of praise for his local community who he said provided great support to the event.
‘The support of everyone around the area was great and I really appreciate it,’ he said.
There is a raffle currently ongoing and Ballyellis National School held a no-uniform day to raise money for the cause. Ballyroebuck National School also held a no-uniform day to support Mr Keogh’s initiative and also the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice.
‘I got a lot of help from people and it wouldn’t have been possible without them,’ said Mr Keogh.
‘Local businesses put prizes towards the raffle and in Carnew as well,’ he added.
Mr Keogh hopes to present the cheque later this week.