Penarth women ditch their duvets for a balcony bed

• Hardy fundraisers boycott their beds to sleep on Penarth Yacht Club balcony
• Chilly sleep-out in aid of Action for Children’s Boycott your Bed fundraiser on July 9

  

Four hardy Penarth women are taking part in Action for Children’s UK-wide charity fundraiser, Boycott your Bed this Friday (9^th July).  Sian Fox from Foxy’s Deli, Sue Carter, Viv Mumby and Bethan Vaughan Cartwright will all give up the comfort of their beds to sleep on Penarth’s iconic Yacht Club balcony.  They are joining thousands of people raising money so that Action for Children can continue to support children, young people and their families as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.

Sue Carter, is a long standing fundraiser for the charity, taking part in previous sleep-outs at the Principality Stadium, but said that she felt that this year it was particularly important to raise money in order to help Action for Children mitigate the impact of the pandemic.  Over the course of 24 days, Sue has given up an hour of sleep to swap it for some physical activity.  She is asking her supporters to support her in this by donating money.  Sue’s efforts will culminate in a breezy sleep on the yacht club balcony with her friends on the 9th July which is the official #BoycottYourBed night, Action for Children’s flagship annual fundraising event.

Speaking about why she decided to take on this fundraising challenge, Sue Carter said:

“I’ve long supported the crucial work that Action for Children do to support children, young people and families, but this year it felt even more important than ever to do what I could to raise money.  That’s why I decided to give up an hour’s sleep a night for 24 days as part of Action for Children’s Boycott your Bed campaign.  For each of these hours I’ve swapped my sleep for physical activity and now I’m delighted to say we’ve been granted permission to sleep on Penarth Yacht Club’s balcony, a very historic location in our town.

“Life was difficult for vulnerable children and their families before the pandemic. Now things are even harder. Action for Children’s frontline, key workers have kept 99% of services open throughout the pandemic, continuing to support vulnerable children, young people and families who were already in desperate need.

“The number of families relying on Universal Credit has doubled. Households with children are twice as likely to have suffered financial hardship – like falling behind on bills or borrowing to pay for basics – because of coronavirus. At the start of the pandemic, Action for Children launched a Coronavirus Emergency appeal which has provided essentials, like food and warm clothes, to around 20,000 children and young people. But more needs to be done. 4.3 million children in the UK are living in poverty. That’s 9 children in every school class of 30.”

Action for Children supported more than 27,000 children, young people, parents and carers in Wales last year with Nina Rice, the charity’s fundraising Regional Manager for Bristol, Bath and South Wales, adding: “It is great to see such passion for an event that will improve the lives of the children, young people and families we proudly support in our communities and that have been stretched to the limit during the pandemic.

“We love Sue’s unique take on Boycott your Bed, which is all about sleeping somewhere extraordinary on 9 July (Action for Children’s birthday) whilst raising awareness and funds for our charity.  I hope Sue and her friends’ efforts inspire others to do something equally challenging as we approach the big night, as this is a remote event, where anyone can take part, wherever they are based. Sue, Sian, Viv and Bethan will join everyone and come together virtually on the night, to enjoy an evening of virtual entertainment.”

Anyone wishing to support Sue in her bid to raise money can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/susannacarter2021

If you want to spend the night in the most unusual place you can think of while enjoying a star-studded evening of virtual entertainment you can register here: https://boycottyourbed.actionforchildren.org.uk/community-registration/