On Saturday 28th March over 1,000 children across the world camped out in their homes and gardens for ‘Max’s Big Camp Out!’. For the founder, Max Woosey, the date marked a whole year of sleeping in a tent in his back garden.
After being gifted a tent to have an adventure, Max, 11, decided to start fundraising last year for the North Devon Hospice, who cared for his neighbours Rick and Sue.
As he started this venture, Max’s parents thought that the idea would only last a few nights and had no idea it would last a year. However, on Saturday, children everywhere joined Max for a night of sleeping somewhere else, with many sleeping in their gardens or camping out in their living rooms.
The event raised £516,000, and became a celebration of children for getting through a year of lockdown and the disruptions it has caused.
Max spent his first night in the tent in his back garden on the 28th March 2020 and has braved many weather conditions throughout the year.
Speaking to the BBC, Max admitted that he had cried himself to sleep some nights as his equipment was soaked.
With the elements providing a challenge, Max has gone through several tents which have been donated by different companies and individuals. Despite it all, he has persevered to help others amid a difficult year.
The mother of a soldier, Private Joe Berry, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2020, donated her son’s sleeping bag to Max. Lisa Snow told BBC News that Max reminded her of her son and “what Max is doing is just amazing, so Joe would certainly approve.”
Celebrities such as Bear Grylls and former England rugby player Jonny Wilkinson have also sent good wishes to Max.
The Devonshire hospice has had many fundraising events cancelled due to the pandemic. According to the hospice’s chief executive Stephen Roberts the money raised “will help us to carry on caring for local people in their hour of need.”
Max’s mother, Rachael Woosey, said that they received hundreds of messages from children taking part in the camp out.
Abby Titmuss
Featured image courtesy of Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
