The tenth annual Mansfield Big Snore took place on Friday 31st January. A team of seven volunteer rough sleepers from Robert Woodhead bedded down in a church car park for the night. The team are on target to raise over £1,200 for homelessness charity Framework, with donations from staff, clients and suppliers boosting the total. The fundraising was helped further by a generous match donation by the company. Framework were named as one of Robert Woodhead’s nominated charities for 2014 and the company will be involved in other initiatives of the year donating not just money but time and resources to help Framework.
More than 100 people took part in the annual event at St Mark’s Church on Nottingham Road – in cold, wet and blustery weather.
A hardy collection of adults and children braved the miserable conditions with just the protection of flimsy cardboard shelters, plastic sheeting, sleeping bags and warm clothing.
Every penny raised – which could be as much as £20,000 in total will be used to help more rough sleepers in the Mansfield area get their lives back on track and move towards independent living more quickly.
Pam Bishop, of St Mark’s Church, said, “it amazes me how many people give up their night to come together and raise money to help those less fortunate in Mansfield, especially when the weather is so awful. The Big Snore is a great, fun, community event and everyone here really wants to do something to help Framework. I am always heartened by the friendliness, enthusiasm and cooperation of participants who are committed to the cause but also up for having a good time.”
Simon Boden, of Robert Woodhead , was taking part in his first Big Snore event. He said, “It makes you realise how fortunate we are. I’ve taken part in charity challenges in the past but this was really tough. It’s also really rewarding to know the money I raise will help local homeless people. I would like to thank everyone on behalf of Team Woodhead who supported us and Framework, it made it all worth while to know we raised so much money!”
The Mansfield Big Snore founder, Ian Doram, attended the event to see how it had grown and changed over the years. He told the participants, “the event has expanded tremendously since the last time I was here (seven years ago) and it is heart-warming to see how the event, which started from such disorganised beginnings, has turned in to a professional event where people raise fantastic amounts of money and also have fun.”
It’s not too late to sponsor Team Woodhead – you can donate online by clicking here (Donations for Team Woodhead will be accepted until March 1st 2014) or you can donate to Framework anytime via their website
Pictured: Team Woodhead (L-R) Juliet Slater, Mathew Hall, Phil Hadley, Glenn Slater, Tom Woodhead, Simon Boden and Istvan Kelemen