The King Lud in Ryde has raised £600 for The Veterans Hub through a sponsored rough sleep.
The Veterans Hub is an Isle of Wight Community Interest Company that supports veterans who may be homeless and find themselves sleeping on the street.
On the night of the rough sleep, the operator of the pub, Ben Reid, was joined by a former veteran and another local man who had been sleeping rough in the past and believed in the cause, and all 3 slept outside. They laid cardboard down on the pavement in front of the pub at 11pm and slept there until 7am. During the night, they were exposed to the elements including heavy rain.
The funds raised were presented to Dale Hillier, CEO and Founding Director of the local Veterans Hub.
Ben Reid, the operator of the King Lud, said:
“I am very proud of this fundraiser, as this is a matter that needs to be addressed more. I am humbled that we managed to raise that amount of money for our local Veterans hub. I am very thankful to all those who believe in this cause and to the people who joined me on this sponsored rough sleep. We had the chance to experience how tough sleeping outside is for those people, especially when it’s raining, and there is water everywhere.”
The pub is planning to have another rough sleep at the end of this year to continue its fundraising for this important cause.
What a fantastic idea, well done to all involved.
So how can you donate to such a worth while cause?
Best way imo is to leave a few cans of white cider at Ryde Esplanade benches.
What time you gonna leave em?
If he’d come over in a boat from Calais he’d be put into a hotel and then housed, mad country UK
Or become a asylum seeker and get housed for nothing