BSS-1

Calcutta Rescue Fund

Health, Education and Hope

The Big Street Sleep

Last July 22 people ranging in age from eight to the retired, gathered at the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel in Hampstead for Calcutta Rescue Fund's first sponsored sleep out.

The Big Street Sleep was conceived as a way of raising money for the people the charity helps in West Bengal, many of whom spend much of their lives sleeping on the street.

We had no idea how many people would want to take part but were delighted that so many signed up. Some had been volunteers in Kolkata in the past, but others had simply read about it in the newsletter and this was the first time they had got involved directly in supporting the charity.

After a meal at a nearby Indian restaurant the team, who had come from all over the country, started to bed down for the night outside the chapel.

While others were settling down for the night on the gravel and pavement, Suzanna Williams took the concept to another level, dressing in polka dot pyjamas and a nightcap and visiting local bars to ask for donations – with considerable success!

Until the early hours people returning home after a night out stopped outside the chapel for a chat about what was going on and many also popped some money into our donation box - a brass water pot from Kolkata.

Throughout the night a candle was kept burning in memory of Dutch CR supporter, Dr Mark Pleizier, who was stabbed to death in Kalimantan, Indonesia, the previous week. Fortunately the rain held off throughout the night. Despite street noise, the sponsored sleep was far more exhilarating and less tiring than expected.

There was a real spirit of camaraderie among the ex-volunteers and supporters and it generated a significant amount of press coverage as well as raising over £6,000 in sponsorship.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part:

Karen Gleave, Steve Wong, Julia James, Monika Faiist, Dermot Boyle, Philip Imray, Angus Kirk, Robin James, Suzanna Williams, Jenny Kerr-Davis, Peter Kerr-Davis, Asa Kerr-Davis, Maya Kerr-Davis, Sarah Cavanagh, Oliver Cavanagh, Natasha Soares, Steve Burrows, Sagarika Bhattacharjee and Sean Duggan.