TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair were among those sleeping on the street in support of homeless youth until 6 a.m. Friday.

Around 50 participants took part in the “Sleep Out” event starting at 11 p.m. Thursday, to raise money for the Covenant House and to raise awareness about the youth who have no other option but to sleep on city streets.

Burke said unlike street kids, the participants will be back in their own beds Friday night.

“That’s not what these kids face,” he said. “A good dose of reality in a small amount. I’m happy to do it.”

Burke is also there for a more personal reason, he said.

“My particular interest is a significant percentage of that community are members of the LGBT community, which is where I do a lot of my work because of my late son,” he said.

The participants had sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard to sleep on.

“The unfortunate thing — it’s from a very small box and I’m a very big guy,” Blair quipped.

But added that he is participating in the event because Toronto police have a close relationship with the event organizer Covenant House.

“They’re all of our kids,” he said. “They’re good kids and they deserve our support.”

Philanthropist Suzanne Rogers and “Dragons’ Den” star Arlene Dickinson also slept on the street.

“It’s not about me,” Rogers said. “It’s about raising awareness for kids who need the support.”

“I sleep in my bed [Friday] night. It’s about the experiences that I’m going to hear with the kids who do sleep on the street and what Covenant House does,” she said.

The group raised over $500,000 for the charity organization.