The 702 Sun International CEO Sleepout was held on Thursday 18 June in order to raise funds and awareness around the issue of homeless and child vulnerability. The money raised by the challenge has gone to Girls and Boys Town.
Among the participants was Leon Campher, CEO of the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA). He raised R101 050, according to the initiative’s website.
“Graeme Stephens, who is the CEO of Sun International organised this together with 702, and I am on the board of Sun International, so he challenged me and I issued challenges to various other CEOs.
“The reason for this is to raise money, and the money that is raised will go to Girls Town and Boys Town to assist them so that they can take more kids off the street.”
“I think it is a very good idea so that people can understand what it is like to spend a night on the streets and in so doing, raise money.”
Campher believed that most CEOs probably had an idea of what it was like to spend a night on the streets, but by taking part in this event, it has reinforced that idea. Taking part in this event lets people realise how difficult it can be spending a cold night on the streets with no shelter.
“I think is has been done very well in the sense that it raises money, but also to experience what it is like to spend 12 hours outside on probably one of the coldest nights of the year in Johannesburg,” said Campher.
He highlighted that this is a worldwide initiative to raise awareness and finding for local charities or projects, such as Girls and Boys Town in South Africa.
For more information on the 702 Sun International CEO Sleepout, click here.