Like many cattle industry leaders Cattle Council of Australia chief executive officer David Inall has experienced plenty of sleepless nights in the past 12 months, particularly during the media storm that erupted during last year’s month-long Indonesian export ban.

In just seven days’ time he is set to have another, but this time at his own choosing.

Mr Inall is participating in the 2012 St Vinnies CEO Sleepout which takes place in cities across Australia on June 21.

The event was created to highlight the plight of homelessness in Australia by challenging business and community leaders to experience homelessness first-hand for just one night.

Thirty-three percent of people who experience homelessness in Australia are children or young people.

“That is more than 34,000 kids without a place they can call home,” St Vincent de Paul Society National CEO, Dr John Falzon, said. “Children in homeless families are more at risk of experiencing disadvantage and homelessness over their lifetime.”

Mr Inall is calling on the members of the cattle industry to get behind the event and to dig deep to help Australia’s homeless.

“I am really passionate about this cause and therefore urge you to support me so that I can help those in need,” he says. “I often think about how privileged I was to have been born into a stable, strong and loving household. Thousand of people aren't so lucky.”

Mr Inall is already well on his way to achieving his fundraising target of $2000, but needs more support to get there before June 21 – to help out click here