Urbanedge Homes Director Steve Maher spent a night on the streets for charity. 83025 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By LAURA WAKELY
STEVE Maher was raised to be charitable.
His mum was continually buying presents for the neighbours and his sister works full-time for a charity.
So when someone joked about his ability to take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout just five days before last year’s event, he quickly set about raising more than $21,000 for the task.
This year the Sunshine Urbanedge Homes Director gave it another crack.
With a little bit more time up his sleeve, he managed to raise more than $22,000 for the sleepout, which took place last Thursday.
The St Vincent de Paul’s event was created to highlight the hardship of the homeless, challenging leaders to experience it first-hand, by sleeping on the streets.
Armed with nothing more than a sleeping bag Steve was ready to brave the wet and icy night.
Steve said the guest speakers on the night, who included people who had been homeless, were inspirational and sobering.
“You actually see being homeless as being so far away, how could that even happen? But when you hear the stories, a few unfortunate events mixed with some alcoholism or drugs, it actually happens really fast,” he said
“I mean it’s good to you know, get a bit of a reality check of how good life is when you have a great family, a good job and lots of support.”
He has been impressed with the number of donations coming through for the cause – one of which included a $3000 donation.
“It just shows that at our level we have some very humble people that are very generous.”
