Galashiels trio raise more than £1,100 ahead of charity sleepout

​Karen Redpath, Fiona Howie and Joe Spence will take part in a sponsored sleepout on Saturday, November 14, in support of Steps to Hope.

Karen and Fiona previously completed a sleepout in 2024. This year Joe has decided to join them as they return to raise more money for the charity.

The trio have already surpassed their initial £50 target, with £660 donated to their JustGiving page when Karen contacted the Southern Reporter.

Their efforts have been inspired by Richie, from Steps to Hope, who is undertaking a six-month challenge sleeping out in 26 cities.

For Karen and Fiona, their previous experience brought home the exhaustion of spending a night outside – and the difference between a sponsored challenge and having nowhere to go.

Although they could return home the following morning, they were conscious that people experiencing homelessness had no such option.

Karen said: “It was an experience sleeping out all night and we were grateful to be able to roll up our sleeping bags and go home in the morning, as we never got a wink of sleep, for some well-earned sleep.

“Homeless people cannot do this and are out in all weathers each day and night.”

During their first fundraiser, passers-by stopped to find out why the women were spending the night outdoors.

Karen said they raised money before, during and after the sleepout, with local people showing an interest in their efforts and supporting the charity.

Now, with Joe joining them, they hope the forthcoming challenge will encourage further donations towards providing shelter for those who need it.

“Watching Richie last time inspired us to do the sleepout,” Karen said.

“We have contacted him again this time and he is happy for us to do another sleepout in support of Steps to Hope.”

The fundraisers’ original ambition this year was to raise enough to provide one person with a hotel bed for the night and breakfast the following morning.

According to Karen, Steps to Hope pays for hotel accommodation when there is no room available at Hope House.

With donations reaching £660, she said the amount raised was enough to fund 13 such overnight stays.

“So far people have been very kind,” she said.

“We wanted to raise at least £50 this time to be able to give one homeless person a bed for the night and breakfast in the morning at a hotel.

“At the moment we have achieved 13 places for homeless people, which is amazing. People are being very kind.”

Karen said Richie is aiming to raise £1 million to build a new facility at Hope House, allowing Steps to Hope to accommodate more people experiencing homelessness.

For Karen, Fiona and Joe, their night outside will support that wider effort while raising money to help people access somewhere warm and safe to sleep.

Anyone wishing to support the trio and help provide shelter for people facing homelessness can donate through their JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/karen-redpath-1791103594457