Boxx co-founder Dean Burgin braved the elements last night in a mission to raise awareness of, and much needed funds to support, the homeless people in Milton Keynes.
CEO Sleepout is a nationwide organisation that aims to fight homelessness one city at a time. They join forces with local business leaders who give up the comfort of a warm bed to help those who don't have one.
On Thursday 7th November CEO sleepout came to Milton Keynes (cruelly along with the first frost of the winter) and over 100 fellow MK business people joined Dean in this inspiring fundraising event. Held at the Milton Keynes Dons Football Club Stadium, the MK CEO sleepout volunteers were tasked with raising funds for both the homeless population and to help furnish the new YMCA building in the city’s centre.
For Dean, it was the memory of a tragedy that sparked him to take part…
“A few years back, a young man died in his tent in an underpass less than 200m from our office. He lay there for three or four days before being discovered. On my daily walk to get lunch from the Centre MK, I must have passed the tent at least six times. Even though it was extremely close physically, it felt like miles away. Soon after, the tent was removed and another homeless person moved in — business as usual. I said yes to this sleepout because I probably never quite got my head around how screwed up this situation is and the wider issue as a whole.”.
Being one of the richest countries in the world and having people sleep outside train stations and in bus shelters is inconceivable to most, yet reality for some. The problem of homelessness is a one we could all share, so it’s not too late to donate…
