The CEO and chair of Life Leisure are teaming up to take part in a’CEO sleepout’ event in order to help raise awareness and funds for homeless people in Greater Manchester.

On Monday, May 16, between 8pm and 6am, Malcolm McPhail and Stewart McCombe – the CEO and Chair of Life Leisure – will be joining business leaders from across Greater Manchester in sacrificing their bed for the night and sleeping outdoors as part of CEO Sleepout Manchester 2016.

Established in 2013, CEO Sleepout is a national charity which aims to tackle poverty and homelessness by calling on the business community in UK towns and cities to take one night to imagine the hardship felt by many, and use their connections to raise vital funds that can make a difference to those who need it most.

Speaking about the event, Malcolm said: “We deliver a number of neighbourhood programmes aimed at making sport and activity accessible to those from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds.

“In this capacity I’ve seen first-hand how widespread the issue of homelessness is. I’ve also witnessed the great work being done by other organisations and charities to break down the barriers that keep many individuals on the streets.

“As the CEO of a charitable trust my ultimate aim is to see how we might be able to join forces and work collaboratively in order to tackle these issues, which is why taking part in the Manchester CEO Sleepout means so much to me.

“A lot can be achieved by working together and in this case I’m certain that the Greater Manchester business community can raise valuable funds and ensure this issue gets the attention it needs.”

Life Leisure chair Stewart McCombe shares Malcolm’s passion for the cause.

He said: “Being involved in the CEO Sleepout was an easy decision – the personal commitment is tiny relative to the challenges faced by homeless individuals each day.

“It is a privilege to live and work in Greater Manchester, a region which leads on the global stage, however, the scale of homelessness remains visible to us all every single day.

I am therefore delighted to join fellow business leaders from the region in raising important funds and giving a voice to others. Through initiatives such as the CEO Sleepout we can keep on tackling homelessness until nobody is faced with the unacceptable reality of sleeping on the streets.”

Life Leisure manages 13 sports and leisure facilities in and around Stockport.

• To sponsor Malcolm or Stewart, visit their Just Giving pages – www.justgiving.com/malcolm-mcphail3 and www.justgiving.com/StewartMcCombe2016.