Jayne Budd, aged 44, and 23-year-old Sammi Potter, will begin their self-imposed solitary confinement at 12:00 pm on Thursday 9th July 2015. If successful they will exit the box, located in the foyer of the Tesco Extra store, Crown Centre, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 1YD 7PR, at 2:00pm on Saturday 11th July 2015.

The pair, who are employed at the store, agreed to take part in the Locked in for Autism campaign after an appeal for a volunteer in the branch.

Sammi, a Philosophy and Sociology graduate from Wolverhampton University, says she’s going to use her academic experience to get her through the challenge. As she explained: “I’m going to write down how we’re feeling as we count down the hours.

“I’ve been told that after the initial adrenalin rush of going into the box, time can begin to drag. I know that I will have someone to chat to but that in itself could cause problems. The box is just 3×2 metres so Jayne and I will be living in each other’s pockets for the duration of the challenge. Although we get on very well and we have a lot in common, I don’t know how we will react when we can’t escape one another’s company! I’m hoping that we will encourage each other to succeed.”

The former Heathfields school pupil, who has worked at the store for 5½ years, says that despite it being a 24 hour outlet she is not worried about being unable to sleep. She said: “I can sleep anywhere. I’ll be out like a light irrespective of the noise around me.”

However, she does admit that she will miss watching television, listening to music, playing sport, seeing her friends and visiting her two nieces whilst she’s incarcerated! She said: “It’s going to be strange not being able to do normal, everyday, things. But I’m hoping my friends and family will come into the store to see me.

“They are all 100% behind me and are all very excited about me taking part in the challenge.”

Although Sammi has no direct experience of disability her best friend’s occupation influenced her decision to volunteer for the box. As she explained: “She works for a charity that supports disabled children and their families, and I’m touched by what she does to help them almost every day.

“If I can raise awareness of how Caudwell Children support children with autism, and raise some money in the process, I’ll be delighted.”

A team from Caudwell Children will be on hand each day to support Sammi and Jayne, and explain to shoppers the challenges faced by children living with the condition. Andy Bailey, from Caudwell Children, said: “Autism is the most prevalent disability in the country and 133,500 children have been diagnosed with the condition in the UK.

“Sammi and Jayne’s selfless 50 hour lock in will give our staff the opportunity to put Caudwell Children on the map in Stourbridge. It will allow us to tell interested shoppers about our Autistic Children’s Therapies programme, which provides a series of therapies, education, dietary and nutritional interventions to autistic children. Simply put the more parents who are aware of ACT the more children we can help.”