11-year-old raises £500,000 for charity by sleeping in a tent for a year
Max Woosey from Devon has slept outside every night for a year
Last updated 30th Mar 2021
An 11-year-old from the South West has raised more than £500,000 for charity by sleeping in a tent in his garden for a year.
Max Woosey from Devon was inspired by family friend and keen adventurer Rick Abbott, who, shortly before his death, gave Max his tent and told him: "Promise me you'll have your own adventures in it."
After much of North Devon Hospice's fundraising was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, Max took it upon himself to fundraise for the place that "looked after" his friend and fulfilled his final wish of passing peacefully at home.
Come rain or shine, Max returned to his tent
Taking Rick's words to heart, Max has certainly had some adventures, enduring all weather conditions including Britain's coldest temperatures for almost a decade!
He also celebrated special occasions in the tent, including Christmas, New Year's Eve and his birthday.
On Saturday 28th March more 1,000 children around the world slept in tents or dens as part of Max's Big Camp Out to mark one year since the beginning of his adventure.
Max thanked everyone who had taken part or donated on Twitter: “Well done to everyone who took part in #MaxsBigCampOut last night, it was incredible to see so many others taking part.
“The total has now reached over £500,000. Star-struck so to everyone who has supported and taken part, thank you.”
Even Bear Grylls was impressed!
His plight has even reached celebrities, with Jonny Wilkinson and Bear Grylls sending videos of encouragement.
Meanwhile, Max's Dad Mark Woosey, himself a Royal Marine, was both surprised and impressed by his son's "steely determination".
He said: “I thought he meant just for a few days. I couldn’t believe it when he started camping out every night, for weeks on end.
“Max has been on an amazing journey. It has brought out both his empathy for others and his steely determination.”
You can find out more about Max's adventure here.