Teams getting ready to tackle The Big Sleep

21st January 2015

In two weeks time, teams from across the county will gather in a cold field and spend one night sleeping under the stars for a good cause.

The Big Sleep, a night of sponsored discomfort, will raise money for Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal to help keep older people warm this winter.

There’s still time for teams, families and individuals to take on the fundraising challenge which will be held behind the Low Wood Bay Hotel in Windermere on Saturday February 7.

Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, Andy Beeforth said: “This year we have live music, a film and a thermal imaging camera at the Big Sleep plus more surprises on the evening. It’s a great way to raise money and awareness of the struggles older people can face during the winter but it’s also a lot of fun and a great workplace challenge.”

One team hoping to make a warm impression is from Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), whose fundraising efforts are already leading the way in both the team and individual fundraising efforts.

They’ll be bringing a thermal imaging camera with them to check just how low their body temperatures will go on the night. Other Big Sleepers can have their thermal photo taken as a unique memento.

Thermal image (L-R)  Caroline Turner (sustain eden programme manager), trustee Collette Butterworth and our Manager Hazel Graham CAfS Charity Manager Hazel Graham said: “So far we have six adults and two children on our team! We started by recruiting CAfS Trustees, staff and their families. The latest brave person to join us is Mark Lloyd from our partner organisation, Sustainable Carlisle.

“We aim to recruit another five people before the event.We have made a choice to be cold for one night but for thousands of people in Cumbria, there is no choice. They will be cold every night this winter. Through CAfS’ energy advice and draught proofing work we see many people who struggle as a result of low incomes, poor insulation or the rising cost of fuel. The Big Sleep is a great way to raise funds to provide much needed support. It is also a fantastic way to raise the profile of this issue.(L-R)  Caroline Turner (sustain eden programme manager), trustee Collette Butterworth and our Manager Hazel Graham

“CAfS exists to promote low carbon living, energy saving and reduced use of fossil fuels throughout Cumbria; we provide information, advice and motivation through events, site visits and practical projects.”

The Nationwide has embraced the challenge with 14 staff from three branches sleeping out – including their district manager David Falconer. The other five branches of the building society are supporting their colleagues by raising money in both Cumbria and Lancashire.

Joanne Williams, Branch Manager from Kendal said: ”We are very committed at Nationwide about getting involved in the local community and raising money for charity at a local level. I put forward the Big Sleep after seeing a leaflet to my district team and they were keen to support the charity, we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to raise money and have a team build together as well.  We will be promoting our participation in branches and asking for customer support as well as asking for support from friends and family.

Christine Allonby from the Barrow branch of the Nationwide said: “We do a lot of citizenship work, volunteering and raising money for different charities. Our colleagues at the Kendal branch of the Nationwide suggested taking part in The Big Sleep and after we read about the reasons behind it, we thought it seemed like a worthwhile cause and the fact that it is a local charity.”

Lakeland Limited have got off to a flying start with a fundraising contribution from the company. Irene Lancaster organised the team, she said: “Six members of staff from Lakeland’s Kendal Distribution Centre have already signed up with additional support from Lakeland’s internal staff charity. We’re all really looking forward to taking part in The Big Sleep to help support this local charity with much needed funds and to help raise awareness of the Winter Warmth Appeal.”

Another local company Alertacall, has entered a team, Events Planner Ellie McKeown said:  “Team Alertacall has signed up to The Big Sleep because everyone who works for the company is passionate about helping older people, which is why this was such an obvious thing to get involved with. About 15 members of staff are coming, many with their own children and families. In fact there have been a lot of sleeping bag deliveries to the office this week in preparation for the event!

“Once a month we organise a different activity for our team so when we heard about The Big Sleep, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to get together to raise money for The Winter Warmth appeal, a great cause that helps so many people throughout the county. Whilst some of our past team days have been challenging, we’re not sure how they’ll compare to sleeping outside in an icy field…

“We’re a growing Windermere company that invents ingenious ways of helping older people and supports thousands of older people all over the country with its OkEachDay daily contact service. The business employs about 30 people and was founded 10 years ago by James Batchelor.

James says: “It’s a privilege to be part of The Big Sleep. We’re all looking forward to the event and think it’s going to be great fun, for the kids in particular. It’s also a privilege to have a warm house because thousands of people really do have difficulty staying warm in their homes leading to ill health, depression and worse. The Big Sleep seems like a brilliant way to raise awareness of this!”

And from the West Coast there is a team of five from the Box Encapsulation Plant, Sellafield Joint Venture team (BEP). We are Gareth Weigh, Dan Hunsley, Tom Rawbone and Rachel Beech Our fifth member is Paul Campbell the Balfour Beatty Nuclear Decommissioning Director. The Joint Venture comprises three companies; Amec Foster Wheeler, Balfour Beatty and Jacobs. I am hoping to encourage some more people from our project team!

If you think you could be up to the challenge, entry is open until Wednesday4th February. To register click here or call 01900 825760.

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