FR Gerard Lai loves a good adventure but this one, he says, “will be a bit different”.

Fr Lai and Stella Maris Primary School principal Mark Ballam have been preparing to take part in the CEO Vinnies Sleepout next Thursday, June 18 at Maroochydore Beach.

It will be “a rough sleep for a good cause”, Fr Lai said.

With only three pieces of cardboard and a sleeping bag to shelter him from the wind and sand, Fr Lai said he expects to feel “cold”, “uncomfortable” and “worse for wear in the morning”.

“It is all part of the experience”, he said, “this is only a snapshot of what the 120, 000 homeless people experience every day”.

“Hopefully the sounds of the ocean will soothe me to sleep.”

Each year leaders from across Australia have come together to draw attention towards homelessness in their local communities, using their influence to bring about change.

We are not only raising money, “but also awareness for how we all have a part to play in eradicating homelessness”, Fr Lai said.

“Homelessness is often not the choice of the person”, but instead “due to their circumstances”, he said.

“Maybe nobody has really given them a chance in life”, hopefully the sleepout “can give them that opportunity to get back on their feet”.

Fr Lai said the money raised from the event would go directly towards assisting people facing homelessness on the Sunshine Coast, providing essential services such as community meals, emergency support and accommodation.

“Jesus calls us to serve our neighbour, even if we misunderstand them, even if we traditionally don’t like them, we are called to love our neighbour,” he said.

“The Vinnies sleepout is one way we can do this and it happens to be organised right at our doorstep.”

“I am a firm believer that small acts of service and kindness have a profound impact on the world, even if no one notices.

“You never know what people are going through, so this is my little bit to try and help.”

This is not Fr Lai’s first sleepout, he also participated June last year and the biggest challenge was the “wind and noise”.

“My cardboard ‘shelter’ collapsed and that was very uncomfortable, making it hard to get back to sleep,” he said.

“I suspect an extra dose of caffeine will most definitely be required.”

Last year Fr Lai raised $6000 for the cause and this year he hopes to beat that.

You can offer support by donating online: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/gerardlai/queensland Or by placing cash in the Maroochydore Parish weekend collection plate, with the envelope marked “Vinnies Sleepout”.