Askamore Sleep Out raises €3,875 for homeless charity Focus Ireland
THE TEAM from Focus Ireland are over the moon to have received a cheque for €3,875 from the community of Askamore who took part in a Sleep Out event last month.
James Keogh organised the sleep out at Askamore Hall after reading statistics indicating that one in four people who are homeless are children aged four and under. He has a four-year-old child himself and the shocking revelation struck a chord with him.
A total of 14 people took part in the sleep out in the hall. Mr Keogh was full of praise for his local community who rallied around him to help raise some needed funds.
The money was also raised through numerous fundraising events leading up to the event. 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.
Cathryn O’Leary from Focus Ireland South East branch said they were delighted to have their first ever Shine a Light event in Askamore.
She said: ‘Shine a Light was part of the response to this unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis and saw a Focus Ireland fundraising drive in Wexford, Dublin, Cork and elsewhere as people slept out for a night to raise much needed funds.
‘Almost a €1m was raised nationwide to help fund the charity’s vital services.’