The annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout is on again Wednesday 23 June and 150 of the region’s business leaders will roll out their sleeping bags on the lawns of Questacon for the cause.

Questacon Director Professor Graham Durant has participated since 2014 and raised over $7000 for homelessness services and was keen to offer Questacon as the location for this years’ Sleepout.

“Having that experience of just one night, sleeping in the bitter cold of Canberra’s winter, was such a humbling and eye opening experience,” he explains.

“My commitment to end homelessness in the ACT is the driving reason I continue to participate and why I offered one of our national landmarks as the next host. I’m hoping that this year we can help Vinnies raise over $400,000 for their services.”

The funds raised are important to the organisation not only to help those who are already homeless, but to prevent those on the brink of financial hardship from slipping into homelessness.

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout helps those who don’t have to go without get a sense of what it’s like for those who have to sleep on the streets.

St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn CEO Paul Trezise explains that sleeping outside night after night has a detrimental effect on mental and physical health.

“One night of uncomfortable and disruptive sleep has a huge impact on you the next day, your alertness and mood is severely impacted. Imagine sleeping like that for weeks, months and even years,” he says.

Durant adds that it is a shame that this event is necessary in the ACT, but is happy to get involved.

“It is such a pity that this event is necessary in a city as prosperous as Canberra but since there are still a large number of homeless folk that need support, it is vital that organisations like Vinnies have the means to provide help,” he says.

As a Sleepout veteran, Durant has some helpful advice to new CEOs participating this year.

“New CEOs this year should focus on why we are doing this but don’t miss the opportunity for networking – it is not every night that you can sleep with 104 Canberra CEOs!” he says.

The tally of funds raised for Vinnies CEO Sleepout ACT is already at $241 000 and is only going up! To donate to the cause simply visit their website and let’s push those number up to $400 000.