Serving the Teesside Business Community | 57
Ian Stark of Chemoxy swaps his briefcase for his
teddy bear ahead of last year’s CEO Sleepout.
WAKE-UP CALL
Join Tees Business for the next CEO Sleepout
H
ere’s your chance to raise £40,000 – at
least - while having 40 winks.
Last year Tees Business organised
a hugely successful event for CEO Sleepout,
raising £45,000 for Teessiders in need of a
helping hand.
Now we’re doing it all again!
We’re looking for Teesside business
owners, directors and senior executives
willing to get sponsored to give up the
comfort of their own bed for just one night
sleeping under the stars.
Tees Business co-editors Dave Allan and
Martin Walker are organising what promises
to be an amazing fundraising event for the
Middlesbrough-based national charity, CEO
Sleepout.
Following last year’s successful event on
the outdoor Victorian Street within Preston
Park Museum, Stockton Council has again
agreed to make the unique setting available
for an event that is sure to make a lasting
impact on all participants.
Fundraisers are allowed to bring along
a sleeping bag, while warm clothes are
recommended. There will also be access to
hot drinks and toilets throughout the night.
Along with Martin and Dave, those who’ve
already signed up to take part include The
Bishop of Whitby Paul Ferguson, former
Visualsoft director Richard Bendelow, Paul
Smith of award-winning Middlesbrough
firm, Bakers Tailoring, Alisdair Beveridge of
The Build Directory in Stockton, Linthorpe
Interiors boss Reuben Hanlon, Double
Eleven duo Mark South and Kimberley
Turner, Graeme Skinner of Naturally Wild and
Bespoke Motor Works directors Daniel King
and Russ Jackson.
Others include, Tees Valley Innovation MD
Ian Donley, Endeavour Partnership solicitor
Ged Flanagan, Adore Properties managing
director Jeremy O’Connor, Goodbodys MD
Jane Hunt, CVfm Radio director Idrees
Rashid, Erdal ‘AJ’ Kuzgun and Roberto Pittalis
of popular Tees restaurants Al Forno and Café
Lilli, and international athlete Matty Hynes,
who owns York restaurant Gulp and Graze,
plus Matty’s father, Mark, of Pro-Drive.
Last year’s event helped to launch The Fork
in the Road restaurant, a not-for-profit project
that also funds a dry bar, Bar Zero, for the
local recovery community. Both The Fork in
the Road and Bar Zero provide training and
job opportunities for long-term unemployed
Teessiders, including ex-offenders, recovering
addicts and those affected by homelessness.
Proceeds from the event will help to
fund the creation of Fork in the Road
apprenticeships for long-term unemployed
Teessiders, including ex-offenders, recovering
addicts and those who may have been
affected by homelessness.
Dave said: “This is an opportunity to
spend a night alongside your business peers
doing something extraordinary to help make
Teesside a fairer place.
“We were delighted by the response we
got from Teesside business people last year
but we want even more business leaders to
raise even more cash this time around.”
CEO Sleepout Teesside takes place at Preston Park Museum on Thursday, November 2.
To register, visit www.ceosleepoutuk.com or email [email protected] with any
questions.
This year’s CEO Sleepout aims to fund more
apprentices like Len Thurlow.
• CEO Sleepout UK is a national
fundraising phenomenon that has
already raised more than £1 million
to fight homelessness and poverty
around the country.
• Since the first CEO Sleepout outside
Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside
Stadium in 2013, business leaders
have slept rough at a range of
landmark venues, including Wembley
Stadium, The Oval, Lord’s Cricket
Ground, Newcastle’s St James Park,
Birmingham’s Villa Park and Everton
FC’s Goodison Park in Liverpool.
• 15% of all funds raised at every
event comes back to Teesside to
support local good causes.
• Founder-chairman of CEO Sleepout
is Teesside businessman and charity
leader Andy Preston.