An Alderley Edge resident will be sleeping rough for one night to help raise money for homeless people and highlight some of the hardships they face every single night.
Michelle Muller, who will be celebrating her 56th birthday next week, is joining a Sleepout at Manchester Cathedral on 8th November in support of the Booth Centre, which is located adjacent to the Cathedral and provides activities, guidance and support for homeless people in Manchester.
She decided to take part in the challenge after attending a talk about the homeless organised by Friends of St. Mary's Church, Nether Alderley where the guest speakers were Amanda Croome, CEO of the Booth Centre, and Victoria Armstrong, founder and director of the Oasis Community Centre in Gorton, Manchester. The parishioners of St. Mary's Church make regular food and clothing contributions to Oasis and the harvest from Nether Alderley School was distributed to Oasis this month.
Michelle stepped forward when members of St.Mary's Church requested a volunteer to participate in the Sleepout at Manchester Cathedral.
She told alderleyedge.com "In the Booth Centre's annual report for 2012/13 it was highlighted that almost 95% of homeless people using the services of the Centre in one week in February 2013 had mental health problems.
"I volunteered for a number of reasons. Firstly, when I was 14 years old I was sent to live with an aunt as my family was homeless for several months until my mother's brother generously acquired a house for us to live in as a family unit. Secondly, my brother lived on the streets when he became mentally ill in the 1980s. Lastly, I was ill with depression (an illness which affects one in four of the population) and have met many people who have lived on the streets and have benefitted through charities like the Booth Centre and Oasis."
Michelle, a chartered accountant who retired from full time employment in the corporate advisory sector when she gave birth to the first of her three sons, has been actively involved with a number of charities since her children started primary school but this will be the first time she has slept outside for a charity event.
Last year the event was a huge success and raised over £22,000 for The Booth Centre. This year over 200 people will take part in the Sleepout on 8th November and have the choice of sleeping outside on the grass or in the Cathedral on The Street, a temporary building which is in place until building work on the Cathedral is completed.
Michelle added "I will decide whether to sleep in or out on the night!!"
If you would like to sponsor Michelle and help her raise funds for the Booth Centre visit her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/Michelle-Muller.
