Fundraisers to sleep out on Swaffham’s streets to support Mind, homeless charity and Necton youngster Harry Smith

A pair of fundraisers are set to spend a weekend sleeping out on the streets of Swaffham for three good causes.

Over Easter weekend, Steph Cooper, 52, and Tracey Stannard-Brace, 60, will be experiencing what it is like to be homeless.

The friends have fundraised for a number of causes over the last six years – with this year’s sleep out set to support mental health and homeless charities as well as a young boy from the area.

The pair are hoping their charitable efforts will continue to help eight-year-old Harry Smith who has cerebral palsy.

Last year, Steph, who works at Andrew Francis Funeral Service in Swaffham, and Tracey, a carer who is semi-retired, took on a static bike ride challenge for “happy lad” Harry and his family, who live in Necton, to support them with the costs of important procedures and physio, raising £2,000 in the process.

The event will also boost two other causes close to their hearts – one being the mental health charity Mind and the other being a homeless charity.

Having experienced homelessness herself, Tracey said some of they money raised will go towards creating toiletry bags for those who are currently in that position.

Meanwhile, a close friend’s struggles with mental health have inspired them to also support Mind.

“We like to do things to help people in the town,” Steph, who is a town councillor, said.

“Swaffham is a beautiful town – we want to give back to the area.”

On the evenings of Friday, March 29 and Saturday, 30, the pair will be sleeping outside of The Greyhound Inn on Market Place.

For an authentic experience, they will be relying on others for food and drinks during this time.

During the day on Saturday and Sunday, the friends will be handing out Easter eggs which have generously been donated to them and asking for donations towards the three good causes.

There will also be a coffee morning with a tombola held at Swaffham Methodist Church on Saturday from 9.30am to 12 noon.