A RECOVERED drug addict from Bonhill will brave freezing weather to sleep rough in Edinburgh next month to highlight the plight of the homeless.

Rosalynne Forrest will bed down in Princes Street Gardens for a night under the stars as part of Sleep in the Park – billed as the world’s biggest sleep-out.

An expected 9,000 rough sleepers will bed down for the night in the charity fundraiser for Edinburgh-based organisation Social Bite which is campaigning to eradicate homelessness.

Sleep in the Park has enlisted the help of top “buskers” to make the occasion memorable, with appearances expected from Deacon Blue, Frightened Rabbit, Liam Gallagher and Amy McDonald.

John Cleese will even read a bedtime story.

As a former heroin addict, Rosalynne, 34, has experienced first hand the ordeal of sleeping on the street.

She left home at 15 and moved to Ferguslie and that’s when her addiction began.

She told the Reporter: “I got in with the wrong crowd and started doing drugs, heroin and crack. I was totally addicted and became homeless, sleeping rough in outhouses, sheds and car parks.

“Addiction destroyed my life for 12 years. I just drifted around Dumbarton and Paisley and even slept rough in London for a while. It was a nightmare but thankfully that’s all behind me now.”

Rosalynne’s fightback came eight years ago when she desperately sought help from Turning Point Scotland which provides high quality social care services to a range of people across Scotland.

“I kept telling myself if I don’t get clean I will kill myself. So I approached Turning Point because I was so determined to get out of the rut I was in.

“They were brilliant. I spent four weeks there and they gave me the help I needed the change things.”

The mum-of-three says support of her family and partner William also kept her focused, as did help from social workers.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, co-founder of Social Bite, said Rosalynne’s resilience and participation was an example to all.

He said: “For someone like Rosalynne to have been through what she has, and to have bounced back, shows that a solution to homelessness can be found.

“The money raised on the night will be a huge step towards eradicating homelessness in Scotland, and support a large number of people back into society where they belong.”

Money raised from Sleep in the Park will go towards finding solutions in housing, addiction and a nationwide jobs programme for the homeless.

Donate by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com and searching for Rosalynne Forrest.