Devon 'Boy in the Tent' takes on new adventure

11-year-old Max Woosey is set to 'boycott his bed' in sleepover at ZSL London Zoo

Author: Sophie SquiresPublished 1st Jul 2021
Last updated 1st Jul 2021

A boy from Devon - who has been camping out in his garden since the beginning of lockdown last year - is taking his fundraising efforts to a whole new level.

11-year-old Max Woosey is going to be sleeping next to the animals at ZSL London Zoo next week.

He will be raising money for Action for Children by becoming a 'zookeeper' by night, helping to care for some of the Zoo's 20,000 animals.

'Zookeeper' Max is asking the public to boycott their bed for Action for Children by joining families across the country on 9 July in a national sleep-out in the most unusual place they can think of.

During his Zoo sleepover, Max will help the keepers care for his favourite species, the Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs. From a young age, Max has dreamt of visiting the animals so helping care for them at the Zoo will be a dream come true.

"Having slept in my garden for 459 nights, I can't wait to boycott my bed at London Zoo with all their incredible animals around me. It's going to be fun and I can't wait to hear them in the early hours - particularly the lions, who are my neighbours for the night. I'm hoping I will hear them roar loudly near my tent!

"Although I can't imagine ever sleeping in an actual bed again, I didn't expect my adventure to take me to the Zoo. I hope that my night at ZSL London Zoo will inspire children and families across the country to join me to boycott their bed."

'Zookeeper' Max Woosey

Action for Children's national sleep out night will take place on Friday 9 July when children and their families across the UK will spend the night in an unusual place.

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