St Vincent de Paul CEO Mark Fitzpatrick and Brierty managing director Peter McBain gear up for the 2013 Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
Camera IconSt Vincent de Paul CEO Mark Fitzpatrick and Brierty managing director Peter McBain gear up for the 2013 Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Credit: Supplied/Matthew Poon

Sleepless nights ahead

Staff ReporterSouthern Gazette

About 100 WA chief executives will head to the WACA Ground for the 2013 Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Brierty managing director Peter McBain is one of WA’s top fundraisers and has raised more than $20,000.

Brierty, based in South Perth, is an Australian engineering company and Mr McBain said only Brierty staff had contributed to his fundraising efforts by sacrificing salary or annual leave.

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‘Our original target was $20,000 and I’m hoping we now get to $25,000,’ he said.

‘I am often up before 5am and know what to expect temperature wise, and I like camping so I will probably be OK as long as it doesn’t rain.’

Chief executive of St Vincent de Paul in WA, Mark Fitzpatrick, said this would be his second CEO Sleepout, having been the Belmont based WA chief executive for only 15 months.

‘It would be great to eclipse last year’s $820,000 and reach the $1 million mark this year,’ he said.

‘This would enable the society to help more homeless people and provide a greater amount of services to those who are on the knife’s edge of being homeless.’

Mr Fitzpatrick said the uniqueness of the fundraiser was a major factor behind its success.

‘It is one of the few major fundraising initiatives where the CEO is the target participant, where they need to show their leadership by putting themselves in an uncomfortable position and where they get the slightest insight into the reason why they are raising money ” sleeping rough for one night,’ he said.

– The sleepout will take place on June 20. To register or donate, visit www.ceosleep out.org.au.