Pair are in-tent on helping homeless
ACOUPLE have been sleeping outside in a tent over Christmas to help raise money for a homelessness charity.
Tony and Beki Wright, from Bredbury, have spent every night inside a tent pitched in their back garden to raise money and awareness for the Wellspring charity.
Tony, 53, and Beki, 44, have been going to work, as a print finisher and pharmacy dispenser respectively, every day as normal.
But every night, they grab a bite to eat before settling in for the night in the tent.
They began their challenge on December 18 and have stayed put ever since, despite being lashed with torrential rain during Storm Barbara and shivering as temperatures dropped below zero last week.
The pair initially set out to raise £100 to help the charity provide meals for homeless people, so they were thrilled to smash their target, and have so far raised more than £550.
They carried on sleeping outside until New Year’s Eve and hope to raise even more cash to support people who have no choice but to live on the streets.
Tony said: “We wanted to do something to support the charity and it seemed like a good idea at the time!
“We thought if we could get £100 to provide some meals for homeless people, it would be great so we’ve been overwhelmed that it’s raised this much.
“It’s been freezing, we’ve been sleeping in pyjamas with hats and gloves on, with a chimenea outside the tent for a bit of warmth, but it’s nowhere near as bad as being on the streets.
“It’s quite comfy on a blow up bed, it’s just the cold.
“If you roll over, you feel how cold it is, so you just have to keep still.
“Last night it was minus two and it was freezing, but it’s alright for us as we can eventually go and warm up.
“We are enjoying it and we are determined to finish it, especially as we smashed our target.
“We wanted to help the Wellspring with it being a local charity.
“We’ve thought a lot about people who are out there on their own on the streets.
“At least we are under cover, some people are out on the streets in just a sleeping bag, out there trying to find somewhere that’s just a bit sheltered.”
Sponsor Tony and Beki online at justgiving.com/ fundraising/TonyBeki.