THE YMCA has thanked Burton Albion for helping the charity with its record-breaking Sleep Out fundraising event and a matchday bucket collection.
A best-ever 188 people slept rough for one night to boost YMCA funds and to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people.
A total of 173 of those people did the Sleep Out at the Pirelli Stadium. These included Burton Albion Academy Under 15s team who decided to join those taking part.
The home of Burton Albion Football Club has hosted the event for the last six years and the stadium has always been provided free of charge.
Food was provided on the night, in the form of a soup kitchen, with bacon sandwiches in the morning.
More than £31,000 has been raised so far by those taking part.
A matchday bucket collection was held at the Brewers home game with Sunderland and £512.21 was raised for YMCA funds.
Chief Executive of the Burton YMCA, Paul Laffey, said: “We couldn’t have done the Sleep Our without Burton Albion’s support. Not only do we have access to the facilities at the Pirelli Stadium but the club put on staff to provide support, ran the soup kitchen and then prepared bacon baps in the morning alongside our volunteers.
“Ever since we moved to the Pirelli Stadium six years ago the event has been growing and this is the largest number who have slept out. We opened an extra area of the ground to cope with the numbers wanting to take part.
“We want to thank Burton Albion and chairman Ben Robinson for the club’s continued backing and also the two companies who provided the cardboard boxes and bubble wrap for those sleeping out – Paul Maddox Director from PH Flexible Packaging and Michael Fernhead from Chrysallis Consulting.
“I would also like to thank all those who took part for the one night in the Sleep Out and who saw what it’s like every night for people who are homeless."