Just hours after more than 300 people left Deepdale on Saturday morning having completed the Big PNE Sleep Out in aid of the Foxton Centre, the fundraising bid officially hit its £50,000 fundraising target in just online donations alone.
The initiative’s fundraising total has since surpassed £51,000 and will have offline donations, text donations and gift aid to add to the final amount when donations close next month.
All monies raised will be used by the Foxton Centre to buy and renovate a house in Preston which will provide shelter and accommodation for homeless people in Preston.
And in the name of raising awareness of rough sleeping, Sleep Out participants bedded down on the floor of the Bill Shankly Kop concourse for the night.
Louis Moult made an appearance at the event and opened up about his own personal story of why he has become such a strong supporter of the work of the Foxton Centre.
There were also speeches from Preston North End’s Head of Community Tom Drake, Blog Preston founder Ed Walker, The Foxton Centre Chief Executive Jeff Marsh and Biffa business development manager Michael Treadwell.
Participants were also congratulated by the Mayor of Preston David Borrow on Saturday morning as he came down to hand out certificates to those who had completed the overnight stay.
The Trust also wishes to thank Donna Clifford, photographer for the night and following morning, Unistage for providing a free podium where speeches were conducted, and Display Wizard for providing discounted roller banners for the event.
Donations for the cause will remain open for the next few weeks and if you’d like to see the final total for the Foxton Centre increase, you can contribute to the Total Giving fundraising page by clicking here.