Thousands raised as Rhyl fundraiser sleeps rough for seven days

Richard Kendrick took part in “sleepouts” in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Rhuddlan, St Asaph and Colwyn Bay between March 11 and 18, and has so far received roughly £2,100 in donations.

He was taking part in Royal British Legion Industries’ (RBLI) “Great Tommy Sleep Out”,  where fundraisers sleep rough in aid of the roughly 6,000 military veterans living on the streets in the UK.

Richard (right) with Alan Jones, of the St Asaph-based community group Random Acts of Kindness (Image: Richard Kendrick)

It follows Richard completing his role as Rhyl’s Poppy Appeal Organiser, during which time he raised £212,835.24 in two years.

Funds raised from his sleepouts will be shared between Rhyl Foodbank, Big Help Project (homeless charity which Richard works for), and the RBLI.

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Richard said: “It’s been hard, cold, wet… I think we had one day when it didn’t rain, but it was -3°C that night. I came home feeling like a block of ice!

“I feel for people who sleep rough, because just a few hours was a killer for me.

“We’ve hit £2,100 and a few pence so far. It keeps going up, so we hope to hit about £2,200 in total, which is more than what I thought it would be.

“You still get people coming over, who haven’t seen it in the press or on social media, and actually think you’re homeless – it’s not just about raising money, it’s awareness, too.”

Richard also raised hundreds of pounds when he completed the same challenge on Rhyl’s High Street last year.

This year, he was also joined by a number of veterans, who accompanied him at various stages of his sleepouts.

Alyssa Dean, a 12-year-old Prestatyn girl known for having made more than 400 survival blankets out of used crisp packets, also donated one to Richard for his challenge.

Richard and Alyssa with the crisp packet blanket she made for him (Image: Darlene Fallorina)

He added: “I had the crisp packet blanket with me every night – it really works! It keeps the heat in, and after it rained, the water just ran off it, so it kept me dry in. That was lovely.

“We were on TV on Monday, which was amazing because, afterwards, people came up to us, and one lady gave us an envelope full of money.

“We had to dry the money every day, though, because it was so wet!

“It was just so nice that that lady came out with her kids in the pouring rain. We’ve had nice donations from so many people, including people who have been homeless who I’ve worked with.

“I think that’s one of the loveliest things – they’ve been in that situation, so it’s like a ‘thank-you’.

“We don’t realise how lucky we are to have our own homes.”

Richard will still be volunteering and helping the Royal British Legion, and will continue to raise funds for the charity, despite not carrying on in the same role.

You can still add to Richard’s total raised from his sleepouts by going to: www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-local-people-who-are-homeless.