Suits sleep rough in honour of film-maker's passion

The sudden death of a film-maker 13 years ago prompted Abu Ali to carry on his friend's fight against homelessness. Now the chairman of the CEO Sleepout charity, which sees corporate high-flyers spend nights sleeping rough, he remembers the man whose passion really started it.

Ali was working in corporate finance in 2013 when his best friend Lee Halpin died of sudden adult death syndrome during his third day filming a homelessness documentary in Newcastle.

Following the shock news, Ali watched some of the footage his friend had captured while "immersed" in homeless life.

"I'll be honest, it wasn't something I had paid a huge amount of interest to," he said.

"But Lee did and he had been advocating for it for a long time.

"I saw some of the work Lee did during those three days and it was a real eye-opener."

After the "horrible news", Halpin's friends got their heads together to decide how best to honour his memory.

From there, a charity that would eventually spread across north-east England and further afield held its first event at one of the region's most famous locations.

"We got put in touch with [Middlesbrough Mayor] Andy Preston," Ali said, "and we ended up putting on a sleepout event at St James' Park," he said of CEO Sleepout's December 2013 debut.

"We got international coverage, raised a huge amount of money and felt we had stumbled on to something which could be replicated."

Aidan Halpin, Lee's father, said his son was "very protective" of Ali when they were young and stuck up for him in the playground, prompting a longstanding and close friendship.

He said his son was "an able young man and he defended people who he saw as vulnerable".

"Lee's last meal was in the People's Kitchen in Newcastle and he sent an email to his mother in light of that experience.

"He was very moved by it."

Aiden Halpin made sure a portion of the funds raised by the first St James' Park sleepout went to the People's Kitchen, where trustee Jackie Boardman said the event "not only raises essential funds" but also increases awareness.

She said: "Lee's story of attending the People's Kitchen is a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can mean the most and why the fight against homelessness is about so much more than having a roof over your head.

"The People's Kitchen isn't just about providing food, it is a place where we don't judge and we welcome people every day."

CEO Sleepout has gone on to host hundreds of events around the country at large venues.

Previous participants include former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi and world record-breaking javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread.

During the events, such as two this November at Mowden Park in Darlington and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, the only thing business leaders are given to sleep on is a bit of cardboard.

This autumn the charity is also holding events at the Lord's cricket ground in London and Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester.

Ali said the charity never wanted to ask people "who didn't have enough to give us money" because those with not enough are very generous and give more than they should.

"The concept was to create an event which aims for people high up in businesses, leaders who are doing well and have the ability to write much bigger cheques."

He said he was "incredibly proud" of the more than £6m the charity has so far raised, funding grants for homelessness charities across the UK.

"Lee might be gone," Ali said, "but we will continue his fight against homelessness and his story will continue to inspire."

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