Day 1 - 'Hungry for the Needs of the Homeless Challenge'

Key Challenges for Today

• Language barrier - not speaking/understanding the French language

• Finding areas in the city where the homeless congregate

• Low morale with nobody acknowledging when Gordon was begging

Overview

Gordon started the challenge this morning, leaving Aberdeen airport at 6am, with only his clothes on his back, phone and diabetic medication. He arrived into Paris at 12pm and took the train to the Eiffel Tower.

Gordon's first port of call was to find out where the homeless usually congregate in the city, and he was directed to Notre-Dame. He had over an hour walk in the 28 degree heat. Thankfully there were lots of public water fountains along the Seine so he could hydrate.

He couldn't find many members of the homeless community after hours of walking. However, he did meet a Spanish man called Jorge. Jorge claimed he had been begging for 5 hours, and only got €3.

Gordon begged for over an hour and nobody looked at him or took him on - his morale was low, and he was hungry, until, a 25 y/o man called Eliot, bought Gordon a tuna wrap. He also got €3.10.

Still unable to find a community of homeless people to get the 'lay of the land', Gordon found a doorway at the side of Notre-Dame to try and get some rest (there were 8 armed security guys around the cathedral, so he's hoping it is safe and they do not move him).

Gordon got 3.5 hours of broken sleep before waking up with insect bites on his torso.

He's already starting to feel territorial about his 'patch'.

If you want to donate to the 'Hungry for the Needs of the Homeless' Challenge, click here. Your donation will go directly to organisations Gordon witnesses making a difference in vulnerable communities.

Thank you for your support!