'Boy in a Tent' receives Guinness Word Record for most money raised by camping

Mac Woosey has raised £700,000 for North Devon Peace Hospice

Max's adventure will end this Saturday (1 April) with 'Max's Final Camp Out Festival'
Author: Ashton KirbyPublished 30th Mar 2023

Guinness World Records has award the 'Boy in the ten' with the award with the most money raised by camping.

Max Woosey, 13, from Devon has raised £7000,000 for the North Devon Hospice since pitching his tent in the garden for the first time on 9 March 2020.

Th title was awarded before Max finally packs up his tent at "Max's Final Camp Out Festival' and head back to his cosy bedroom.

Max began his adventure at the age of 10, after his neighbour Rick Abbot left him his tent after passing away. He told Max to 'have an adventure'.

To fulfil his promise, Max recognised the wonderful worth the North Devon Hospice did whilst Rick suffered with terminal cancer. Max said, "“The North Devon Hospice took such good care of him I wanted to do something to say thank you to them.”

Stephen Roberts, Chief Executive of North Devon Hospice, said, “Often, it’s only when people see our care first-hand that they truly understand how much it means.

Max first pitched his tent at the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown (29 March 2020)

"The Woosey family saw the level of care and support we were able to give Rick, to help him stay at home where he wanted to be, and to live his final days in comfort without pain. This sowed the seed of Max’s amazing adventure."

The money Max has raised has allowed the hospice to fund 15 hospice community nurses for an entire year who support more than 500 patients in their won homes, helping them as they battle illnesses like cancer.

Along the way, Mac has had some great experiences, from being Zookeeper for the night at London Zoo, camping in Twickenham Stadium and even sharing a cuppa with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his dog Dilyn.

Max said, ‘I am so excited to have this Guinness World Records title, it is every boy's dream! It is incredible to be part of this very special club! I have had the best three years of my life. There have been some struggles, but it has been an amazing experience and I have loved it from day one. I only set out to have an adventure and raise £100. I hope people see that children are capable of a lot more than people think.’

The North Devon Hospice said, ‘Amongst some other well-deserved accolades, Max is now a Guinness World Records title holder, and we could not be more proud. The boy who first pitched his tent in March 2020 has grown into a very impressive young man, who has helped to change the lives of so many.’