A SINGER from Flintshire is planning to sleep outside for nine nights to raise funds and awareness for a homeless veteran charity.

Dave Tattum from Holywell is hoping to raise money for the Royal British Legion Industries during the Great Tommy Sleep Out challenge.

For each £100 he raises, Dave will sleep in his garden for one night.

The singer from Holywell, Flintshire is set to sleep outside for nine nights from Thursday (March 7).

More accustomed to performing to a live audience, each evening the former Angel Witch frontman, who with Iron Maiden were the forerunners of the new wave of heavy metal in the 1980s, will sing in his garden with just his dog as his audience, and livestream the performance on Facebook.

Dave is doing this for RBLIs’ The Great Tommy Sleep Out, the charity’s annual flagship fundraising event that raises money for its work with homeless veterans.

You can sponsor Dave here.

Each year in March, people across the UK sleep outdoors for one night or more to experience, in a small way, the reality of life for homeless veterans. The Great Tommy Sleep Out is open to individuals, groups, and companies.

The Leader: Dave Tattum in his Royal British Legion Institute The Great Tommy Sleep out beanie hatDave Tattum in his Royal British Legion Institute The Great Tommy Sleep out beanie hat (Image: Dave Tattum)

As everyone has different abilities, it’s up to the person or people taking part to pick their location, plan their night or nights sleeping outside, and fundraise.

Dave, who is a second tenor in The Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir, also plays in a rock band, and sings jazz and blues, said: “It’s shocking how many veterans are homeless, and this is my way of doing something to help.

"People have been very generous, and so far, I’ll sleep outside for eight nights, but as sponsorship is still coming in, it could be more.

"March will be a busy month as The Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir will sing at the Principality Stadium at the Italy vs Wales rugby game on the 16th, so we’re busy rehearsing.”

MOST READ

Lisa Farmer, RBLI’s Chief Executive, said: “When you think that an estimated 6,000 veterans are street homeless in the UK right now, the support from people like Dave who take part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out has never been more important.

"The Great Tommy Sleep Out is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women who find themselves without a home when they return to civilian life.

"This is an important issue, and we are working with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to reduce veteran homelessness and end rough sleeping.”