Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 35 | Page 29

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 29
Bianca Robinson of CEO Sleepout with Mowden Park
chairman Mick Birch together with others who’ve signed
up to take part in the first-ever Darlington CEO Sleepout.
County Durham business leaders
challenged to sleep out for charity
Business leaders are being challenged to sleep out for a night when Darlington
holds its first ever CEO Sleepout to raise funds in the fight against loc al
homelessness and poverty.
N
orth-East-based charity CEO
Sleepout is looking for leaders from
Darlington and County Durham’s
most compassionate businesses
who are willing to get sponsored to give up
the comfort of their own bed for just one
night sleeping under the stars.
Mowden Park Rugby Club will host the
fundraising event that will see executives
of dozens of local businesses swap their
laptops and office comforts for sleeping bags
and the cold floor.
Fundraisers are allowed to bring along a
sleeping bag and mat, while warm clothes
are recommended. There will also be access
to hot drinks and toilets throughout the night.
Since founder-chairman Andy Preston
held the first CEO Sleepout outside
Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium four
years ago, events have been held at iconic
venues across the country.
Sleepout events have been held at
Wembley Stadium, The Oval, Lord’s Cricket
Ground, Newcastle’s St James’ Park,
Birmingham’s Villa Park, Everton’s Goodison
Park and at Durham Cathedral.
But CEO Sleepout’s Bianca Robinson
said the enthusiasm and generosity of
Mowden Park chairman Mick Birch and group
managing director Lee Rust had helped bring
the charitable phenomenon to Darlington for
the first time.
“We’ve been looking to bring CEO
Sleepout to Darlington for some time and are
thrilled that Mowden Park are enabling us to
do that.
“We’re now looking for the region’s
business leaders to show just how
compassionate Darlington and the
surrounding area is to help make a real
impact on an incredibly serious issue of local
poverty and homelessness.
“We’re hoping for at least 40 to take part.
“We promise participants they’ll have an
unusual and memorable night - and meet
some fascinating individuals, all of whom
have given up one night of comfort to help
others.
Both Mr Birch and Mr Rust have signed up
to take part in the event, along with Mowden
Park colleagues Nick Saint and Anne Rose.
Among others already signed up for the
event are Sharon Hutchinson of Darlington
Business Club, Matthew Telling of RMS
Recruitment, Martin Walker of Mantis Media,
Matthew Knight of Rovin Environmental,
Melissa Thompson of KMS Partners, Tori
Gill of tgi Media, Pete Noble of Advantex,
Matthew Prosser of Go Limitless and
Michael Taylor of Contego Environmental.
Another taking part is Janet McGuigan, a
management consultant for Deloitte, who
has agreed to participate in every sleepout
across the country that any of her colleagues
sign up to do.
Each participant is asked to raise at least
£1,000 in sponsorship, with funds going
to rugby charities supporting vulnerable
communities, homeless charity Changing
Lives and a number of other local worthy
causes.
CEO Sleepout Darlington takes place
at Mowden Park Rugby Club on the night
of Thursday, October 18. To register, visit
ceosleepoutuk.com/darlington.