by Bethany Rielly

A DESCENDANT of Karl Marx is set to sleep rough for a week in Kingston, west London, to raise money for a homeless shelter.

Joseph Marx and his friend Will Fraser-Coombe, from nearby Staines, will be equipped only with a sleeping bag and a camera with which to document their experiences.

By going homeless they are hoping not only to raise money but also to change how members of the public perceive and treat rough sleepers.

Mr Marx, a free runner, is a direct descendant of the influential communist political philosopher Karl Marx. “I can’t imagine having to go through what homeless people do on a daily basis, but I want to get an idea and show the public how rough these people have it,” said Mr Marx.

The pair will not take money with them and will rely on the kindness of strangers and using their wits to stay fed, warm and dry. “At the moment I am going through intense physical training and eat at least four full meals a day. I can’t imagine I will be able to sustain this without any money,” Mr Marx said.

“We expect to see a massive change in the way certain people treat us. Most people will just ignore us, some will be kind enough to help us out, but we have seen a lot of homeless people being mistreated and abused which should never happen.” 

The number of people sleeping rough in London has more than doubled over the last five years with an estimated 7,500 people in 2014-15. 

According to a survey produced by homeless charity Streets of London, over two thirds of rough sleepers said they had been insulted by a member of the public, with one in 10 admitting that they had been urinated on.

Mr Marx and Mr Fraser-Coombe will sleep rough from October 24 to 30 and are raising money through their Going Homeless GoFundMe page.