85 year old Elspeth Owen stars in CamCRAG Winter Fair and Sleepout. Event supports refugees and homeless via The Haven shelter.
The fair teamed up with WHAG and organized a sleep-out for refugees and homeless people. This happened over the weekend of February 8th and 9th. Stalls sold food, drinks, clothes and books. Cambridge Jazz Choir performed at the event. People also sold crafts made locally and by refugees. All money raised supports CamCRAG’s refugee work.
Sleepers ate a meal together after sunset, after the public fair ended. They faced the night in tents or under tarps.
Catharine Walston chairs the CamCRAG group. She said the sleepers beat their goal and raised over £5,000. They will share funds with The Haven, which offers shelter for women in Cambridge.
The sleepout night was cold, damp and windy, and traffic and light kept people awake. Foxes also roamed around during the night.
Elspeth Owen, a potter and Greenham Common veteran, undertook the sleep out challenge at 85. She wanted to raise funds for others.
Elspeth’s commitment can still be rewarded since the donation page is live for two more weeks. Catharine said Elspeth slept out for others, so they do not have to.
The money raised supports CamCRAG’s work, focusing on activities in Northern France, and also supports WHAG, CamCRAG’s charity partner.