A north-east charity campaigner will sleep rough in cities across the UK to highlight the plight of homeless people.
Gordon Cruden will take on the Hungry for the Homeless and Addicted challenge to raise awareness and funds for a female addiction recovery centre in Aberdeenshire.
The 48-year-old will leave his bed, clothes and supplies at home in Fraserburgh so he can attempt to sleep rough in Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, Dublin and Belfast for 30 days.
Mr Cruden previously raised more than £170,000 during a motorbike challenge across Europe to help the Teen Challenge project buy the Benaiah Centre, near Mintlaw, and this latest effort will go to the same cause.
“It’s one thing to hear about people’s problems but it’s another thing to feel what they feel,” Mr Cruden said. “This challenge will allow me to feel the harsh realities that homeless people have to deal with.
“We often welcome people from the streets into our addiction recovery facilities and so I also aim to raise cash for our campaign to Buy Benaiah, where broken women can have their lives dramatically changed.”
“The main aim of the challenge is to shine a light on the shocking plight of our homeless.”
The Benaiah Centre is currently rented by the Teen Challenge project, which allows mothers to continue living with their children while they complete a 48-week addiction recovery programme.
The purchase of the site – which will cost an estimated £535,000 – would allow the team to provide more permanent residential support.
To date £178,333 has been raised. Mr Cruden will begin his challenge on October 21.