Shopping will be on the minds of most people heading into Dublin city on Saturday but 70 Belvedere College students will be taking their sleeping bags into town to sleep on the street.
This will be the 29th year students of the Dublin school will run the sleep-out to raise funds for charities such as the Fr Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland.
The fifth- and sixth-years will be joined by more than 20 former students. The 90- strong group will set up camp outside the Bank of Ireland on College Green and at the GPO on O’Connell Street. Sixth-year student James Meade (18) said they were hoping to beat last year’s effort, which raised more than €130,000. The sleep-out has raised more than €1.5 million since the tradition began in 1983.
He acknowledged the recession and recent budget would not make their task any easier but said people tended to be more generous at Christmas.
“It will be a challenge but in general the group is looking forward to it,” he said.
The sleep-out will end at 6pm on Christmas Eve.
