Adelaide Day Surgery CEO Emma Lyndon recently swapped her bed for cardboard and slept outside to support Australians who are experiencing homelessness, and who are at risk of homelessness.

Ms Lyndon was just one of more than a hundred Adelaide business leaders who took part in the experience, on what turned out to be an extremely wet and cold night.

“Two days before the sleepout the weather forecast was looking grim so I wore the warmest, most waterproof jacket I could find but even then, I was very underprepared,” she said.

“A piece of cardboard, pillow and a tarp were allowed, and we had to work out a way to not let the water in.”

Ms Lyndon was nominated by a friend for the CEO Sleepout and accepted as she’s noticed a rise in people on the streets especially since COVID-19 hit.

“I don’t think you can walk through any city in Australia without seeing evidence of people who are doing it really tough,” she said.

“Everyone is feeling the effects of the pandemic. Within our organisations, as senior managers we are supporting staff through this crisis and the challenges for individuals and their families is real either due to mental health or job losses.”

Despite knowing she had security around, Ms Lyndon said the hardest part of the night wasn’t the heavy downpour but was actually deciding on where to sleep (not that she got much sleep in the end).

“It was really anxiety provoking. I could tell the people who had participated in the sleepout before as knew exactly where to go and if you were lucky enough to sleep against the edge of the building you could try to get a little bit of shelter from the rain,” she said.

“It really made me think about the challenges people experiencing homelessness face, and the struggle they would have tried to find somewhere safe to sleep every night.”

In SA alone there are more than 6000 people either homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Ms Lyndon had an initial goal to raise $4000, but through creative fundraising she raised more than $7500.

In addition to generous online donations, local businesses donated prizes for a raffle, and she also held a second hand clothes sale.

“I was completely overwhelmed and ecstatic when I hit that figure. I am extremely grateful for my friends, family and colleagues who supported me and in turn St Vincent De Paul” she said.

Together, Adelaide CEOs raised more than $933,000 for the cause.