Dominique Harrison-Bentzen was out at 3 a.m. when she realized she had no phone battery, bank card, or money, and she had lost her friends. She had just started to panic when a homeless man named Robbie offered her about 3 pounds (about $4.50) in change. "I just couldn't believe that somebody who has so little — and that was probably everything to him — could offer it to me, a stranger that he just met," she told BBC Radio. She didn't accept the money and found another way home, but she kept thinking about the man's generosity.
She decided to do something for him in return. After she learned she wasn't the only one he'd tried to help — she heard about him "returning wallets untouched to pedestrians and offering his scarf to keep people warm" — she launched a campaign to raise money for him, promising to spend 24 hours as a homeless person to learn what it's like.
I was lucky enough to find him again and his name is Robbie, he has been homeless for 7 months through no fault of his own and needs to get back on his feet but cannot get work due to having no address. So that's when I decided to change Robbie's life and help him, as he has helped many others.On Tuesday 16th December I will be spending 24 hours through the day and night as a homeless person to understand the difficulties they face each day. And this is where I need everyone's help, please sponsor me £3 - as Robbie attempted to give me his only £3 - in the hope of collecting enough to get Robbie a flat deposit.
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So far Harrison-Bentzen has raised 32,101 pounds (more than $50,000), and at Robbie's request, some of the money will support local charities as well.
Today she posted an update on Facebook: "Exciting update! Robbie's new life is within reach, for those concerned about Robbie, I can confirm he is safe, in shelter and warm whilst waiting to move into his new permanent accommodation. How amazing is that?"
Really, really amazing.