Blackpool's Big Ryan completes rough sleep fundraiser

Ryan, of South Shore, is 35 years old today but when morning dawned he was still in a sleeping bag, taking part in a 12-hour rough sleep mission to raise funds.

He was joined by pal Josh Morrison, who has helped set up the project's fundraising page, raising money in support of the weekly soup kitchen for the homeless at Mag's Beach Cafe 2 on Lytham Road, which Ryan helped set up.

The pair are also raising funds to supply the staff of The Harbour mental health unit with pizzas for a treat.

The pair, camped outside the entrance of the Gateway mental health resource centre at the Bloomfield Road football stadium, endured some wet and windy weather until the mission came to an end at 8.30am this morning.

Ryan, who will be celebrating his birthday with family later today, said: "We've done this for just one night but the homeless have to do this all the time.

"There were lots more homeless around Bloomfield Road than I expected.

"We're lucky but we don't know it. Think about having to live like this."

Josh, 31, who runs JR Roofing Lancs, said: "It was real eye opener and it was a bit scary in parts, you feel vulnerable out here.

"I didn't realise how many homeless there are here, people from all kinds of backgrounds.

"There are some really sad stories.

"We've only done this for one night but I hope it can help a little.

"Ryan's done lots of good work and I just wanted to help him."

Ryan has had a busy few weeks, staging a sponsored walk at Bloomfield Road stadium in supporting of the RNLI, joining forces with Mag's Beach Cafe 2 on Lytham Road to set up a soup kitchen, and recently handing over a huge haul of sweets, biscuits and chocolates for patients at The Harbour mental health unit in Blackpool.

So far an impressive £1,420 has been raised, smashing the target of £1,000 target.

Ryan added: " I just want thank everyone who has sponsored me."

Ryan's fundraising link is at; https://gf.me/u/y45ttv