Tees Business Tees Business Issue 15 | Page 58

58 | Tees Business DREAM CATCHERS DA RL I N G TO N A N D T EESSIDE BU SINESS LE ADE R S C H A L L E N G E D TO JOIN SLE EPOU T FU NDR AISER Tees Business is supporting two CEO Sleepout charity fundraisers – and we want the region’s business executives to join us CEO Sleepout’s Bianca Robinson with early sign-ups for the Teesside event. Bianca Robinson of CEO Sleepout with Mowden Park chairman Mick Birch together with other business leaders who’ve signed up to take part in the first ever Darlington CEO Sleepout. DAR L ING TON B usiness 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 local homelessness and poverty. North-East-based charity CEO Sleepout is looking for leaders from the most compassionate local 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 from dozens of local businesses swap their laptops and office comforts for sleeping bags and the cold floor. 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. 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. She said: “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.” 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 Tees Business co-editor Martin Walker, Sharon Hutchinson of Endeavour Partnership, Matthew Telling of RMS Recruitment, Matthew Knight of Rovin Environmental, Tom Cockerill of the Wood Floor Company, Melissa Thompson of KMS Partners, Tori Gill of tgi Media, Pete Noble of Advantex, Matt Prosser of Go Limitless and Michael Taylor of Contego Environmental. CEO Sleepout Darlington takes place at Mowden Park Rugby Club on the night of Thursday, October 18. To register, visit ceosleepoutuk.com/darlington T EESSIDE M iddlesbrough-based charity CEO Sleepout is calling on Teesside business executives to sleep out for one night in the fight against local poverty and homelessness. With support from Stockton Council, the outdoor Victorian Street within Preston Park Museum will play host to an event organisers promise will make a lasting impact on all participants. This year CEO Sleepout Teesside also involves a first ever Team Challenge – with teams from Tees organisations invited to a fundraising race. CEO Sleepout organiser Bianca Robinson said: “We’re aware that many local businesspeople have already taken part in a CEO Sleepout event, which is now a much-anticipated fixture on the Teesside business calendar. “This time we’re asking them to join us again and make it even more fun by bringing along their business team for this special challenge. Those joining Tees Business co-editor Dave Allan at the event include: Jo Davies (HR Alchemy), Mark Kenrick (px Group), Michelle Ball (Middlesbrough College), Mike Styan (CourseBox), Greg Hynes (Prosafe Engineering), Helen Stewart and Carl Thom (Calm Digital), Shaun Buckle and Jonathan Waters (Eighty8 Design), Gary Russell (Mabo Media), Warren Harrison (Teesside University) and Matthew Telling (RMS Recruitment). CEO Sleepout Teesside takes place at Preston Park Museum on the night of Monday, November 12. To register your team, visit ceosleepoutuk.com/middlesbrough C E O S LE E P O UT RULE S • 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. • Each participant is asked to raise at least £1,000 in sponsorship, with funds going to local charities fighting poverty and homelessness.