PICTURES | Midlands Simon 'Sleep Out' in Longford rugby club branded best yet in face of homelessness crisis

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Dozens of brave souls took part in a rapidly growing annual fundraiser on Good Friday last week to raise much needed funds in the ongoing battle against homelessness.

Midlands Simon Community's yearly ‘Sleep Out’ has provided a key resource in helping the local charity offset the continuing demands facing the country’s wider housing crisis. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

In the region of 80 people, including familiar faces from the worlds of local politics and business, turned up at Longford Rugby Club last Friday with cardboard boxes and sleeping bags in tow.

That turnout was one fundraising manager Noel Greene was more than content with.

“It went excellently,” said Noel, when speaking with the Leader on Easter Monday.

“We had a great night, a great crowd and there was a nice atmosphere to it all.”

Though final tallies relating to the fundraiser have yet to be formally totted up, Noel said the evening was “more successful” than what he and other organisers had originally foreseen.

There were warm words of encouragement too from Midlands Simon Community’s chief executive Tony O’Riordan as the charity boss highlighted the state of play across the Longford area.

“It got very cold during the course of the night, but all in all it was a lovely evening,” added Noel.

The local homelessness advocate also quipped of how, despite the plunging temperatures, he “could hear a lot of snoring” among those who did turn out for the fundraiser.

Noel equally noted that the event was very much a “joint venture” between Midlands Simon and Longford Rugby Club in a drive that he said would go a long way towards addressing one of the biggest social headaches to hit this county and wider midlands region for years.

“All of the monies raised in Longford will be directed to services within Longford and for that we are very grateful,” he said.