Harrogate GP team swaps beds for the streets to raise over £1,400 for local charities

Staff from The Spa Surgery in Harrogate swapped their beds for a night outdoors, raising over £1,400 for two local charities at the Big Harrogate Sleepout.

Taking part as Team Spa, eight members of the practice team spent the night of Thursday 1 October sleeping out to support Harrogate Homeless Project and Saint Michael's Hospice.

This year's Big Harrogate Sleepout raised £15,362.23 in total, which will be split equally between the two charities to support people across the area who are experiencing homelessness and hardship, as well as those receiving end-of-life care. Team Spa raised around 10 per cent of the total.

The Spa Surgery, based at Mowbray Square Medical Centre on Myrtle Square, chose to support the event because both charities play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of the local community.

Practice Manager Mike Drew said: "We're incredibly proud of everyone who took part.

"As a GP practice that supports Harrogate Homeless Project and the local homeless population through our bespoke GP clinic, we see every day how much a safe, warm place to sleep matters, and we understand how valuable good end-of-life care is to our patients.

"Supporting Harrogate Homeless Project and Saint Michael's Hospice, who we work so closely with, meant a lot to the whole team.

"A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored us. It was a slightly damp night, but a really worthwhile one, and we're already planning to be back next year."

Next year's Big Harrogate Sleepout will take place on Thursday 7 October, with Harrogate Homeless Project as the sole charity partner.