By Róise Collins
LETTERKENNY man Gary Ramsey is making the final preparations for his seven-day stint living in a shed in the town’s Market Square in aid of the Donegal Hospice, which starts tomorrow.
Gary will spend 168 hours inside a 10×8 foot shed, which will be humbly decorated with little more than an inflatable bed and a folding chair.
The shed will be inside a fenced enclosure outside Greene’s Shoes, where there will be a portable toilet, but no running water for basic hygiene.
“To brush my teeth, I’ll have to pour water into a cup, and to shower, I’ll be wiping myself with baby wipes,” Gary told the Donegal News.
“I’d be better off in Mountjoy for a week; I’d get more comfort,” he laughed.
Spending seven days and nights inside the fenced enclosure is no small feat, but the Donegal Hospice is a charity close to Gary’s heart, and he wants to show the hardworking hospice staff how much he appreciates their kindness and compassion.
“Everybody in Donegal has some connection to the hospice. Over the years, I have had three different experiences with the hospice. Although it’s not a nice experience, the staff up there have always been amazing.”
“I’ve always wanted to do a fundraiser, but I didn’t want to do the run-of-the-mill thing. I wanted it to be a bit different. I came up with this idea before Christmas and started rolling with it, and here we are.”
Gary is extremely grateful to all the local businesses that have chipped in to make the fundraiser a reality. Everything has been kindly sponsored, from the shed down to the toilet roll.
“I’m very grateful to Alfie Greene from Greene’s Shoes, Watson Hire, who are sponsoring a portaloo and a 12×12 foot fence, and Daleside Garden Furniture, who are sponsoring the shed.”
As there are no cooking facilities or even a kettle to make a cup of tea, local shops and cafés have agreed to sponsor his breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Gary works for the Irish Wheelchair Association, which has also kindly sponsored a couple of days’ wages.
Gary’s biggest fear is sleeping. With no more than a fence and a padlock protecting him from the outside world, he’s scared he will feel very exposed when the pubs and nightclubs empty onto the main street at the weekend.
“That’s why I’m starting on a Friday—to get the worst of the weekend out of the way, and then the rest of the week shouldn’t be too bad.”
His four teenage boys think their dad is “mad in the head.”
But despite all the challenges he will face in the seven days and nights ahead, Gary said he is looking forward to company (and cups of coffee) from people passing by.
Gary will be moving into the shed tomorrow, Friday, February 21, at 12 noon, so make sure to drop by, say hello, and leave a donation. If you would like to donate online, you can visit https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/garyinashed
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