Dundalk's Sleep Out for Simon set for this Friday

While many of us will be curled up by the fire on Friday night spare a thought for the brave volunteers who’ll be braving the December weather as they sleep out at Market Square to raise funds for the Dundalk Simon Community. 

The appeal was started eleven years ago by local Greenacres couple Maeve and Terry Curtis who encouraged people to swap their beds for a sleeping bag for one night of the year.

Sadly, Terry passed away in September this year but Maeve is continuing with the yearly fundraiser, alongside some hardy volunteers, in his memory.

The event, which has raised an incredible €128,000 since it began, was forced to go online for the past two years due to Covid with  with participants taking to the floor of their sitting rooms or even to their gardens to brave the elements in aid of the charity.

The event is the biggest fundraiser for the Dundalk Simon Community and money raised this year will help the charity deal with their rising running costs and operate their drop in centre  as according to Maeve they’ve seen their electric bills rise by 150%.

The sleep out will take place from 8pm on Friday night until 8am on Saturday morning with people still welcome to come down and take part with sponsorship cards still available from the Simon office in Seatown.

The fundraiser will remain open over the Christmas period and donations can be made on the Simon Community website, or simply by ringing Dundalk Simon on 042 933 9583.