A COUPLE of men from a charity organisation based in Llandudno are sleeping rough every night for four weeks to raise money for two causes.

Nathan Midgley and Marcus Williams, of Llandudno Vikings, started the challenge on February 1, in aid of Hope Restored foodbank and Conwy Mind, and have already raised thousands.

With just cardboard for a bed and their “bivvy bags”, Nathan & Marcus have so far slept out on the town’s promenade bandstand, Mostyn Street, and West Shore.

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They’ve been supported along the way by other members of the group sleeping out with them on different evenings.

You can add to their funds raised, which so far exceeds £6,750, by visiting: www.givewheel.com/fundraising/2163/the-big-sleepout-2024.

Nathan, who has been involved with Llandudno Vikings since 2017, said: “For anybody who finds themselves unfortunate enough to be on the street, it can’t be a nice time.

“So, the challenge fitted in with Hope Restored. It’s about raising awareness of homelessness. Hope Restored are regularly feeding 20 to 30 people a week - that’s a lot to be looking after.

“Mental health issues have gone through the roof since COVID, so Conwy Mind was also an obvious choice.

“The hardest night so far was probably the very windy, rainy night we had on West Shore a few nights ago; everyone got quite wet and soggy!

Nathan has revised his initial target of £5,000, having already surpassed that, and is now aiming to raise £7,500 from the challenge.

He added: “The other thing I’m hoping to do is launch a ‘big sleep-in’, where we pick a night to get as many people to sleep inside, but not in their beds, for charity; on the floor, just to raise that bit more awareness about sleeping rough.

“It’s certainly been an eye-opener. We’re fortunate enough to be finishing at 7-8am and come into work, where it’s nice and warm.

“We’re seeing just a little bit of what people have to put up with.”