A young boy who has raised more than £700k by sleeping outside in a tent is ending his challenge after three years - and finally coming back inside. Inspirational Max Woosey, 13, who has lived more than a thousand nights under canvas in memory of a family friend who died of cancer, has announced the end of his epic camp out.
The teen, known as 'The Boy in the Tent', started sleeping in his garden in March 2020, aged 10, and his exploits have raised enough to fund 15 full time hospice nurses. Max's exploits have directly supported in excess of 500 patients at the North Devon Hospice.
During his adventure he has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM), camped out in front of exotic locations such as London Zoo, 10 Downing Street, Twickenham Rugby Stadium, and received a tent from Bear Grylls. And Max says he plans to end his three year run with a final celebratory camp-out festival on 1 April at Broomhill Estate in North Devon.
He announced the end on Twitter and wrote: "It’s a funny feeling that after nearly three years tomorrow marks the start of my last month under canvas. Mixed emotions."
He later added: "Every good thing must come to an end." Max's final fundraiser will host three music stages along with an exhibition of previously unseen movie memorabilia.
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Brad Pitt's sword and shield from the film Troy and the original board from the Jumanji film are expected to be included on display. There will also be a guest appearance from Welsh Game of Thrones actor and stunt man Ian Whyte.
Max said: "It was amazing that so many people got in touch from all over the UK wanting to mark my three-year anniversary of camping out, but I wanted to stay close to home and celebrate with friends and family nearby. We are going to camp out on the grounds amongst the sculptures and have a big party.
"There’s going to be bands and live music, fireworks and food, special guests, axe-throwing, and really cool movie memorabilia! It’s going to be epic." His sleep out began on March 27 in 2020 in memory of Max's friend and neighbour, Rick Abbot, who died in February 2019.
Rick, who was 74, had given Max a tent and told him to have an adventure with it, so he decided to camp out in the garden of his family home in Braunton, Devon. He decided to fundraise for North Devon Hospice, where Rick had died, after it faced a £1m drop in funding because of the lockdown.
He alone since then has managed to raise enough to fund 15 members of staff salaries - with his fundraising efforts being described as 'insane' by their team. Max's mum, Rachel, said: "We are so proud. He is such a lovely young man and has stayed very grounded about everything he has been through.
"He has raised an incredible really and not bad for sleeping in a tent. We are all so proud of what he is doing." Stephen Roberts, Chief Executive of North Devon Hospice, said: "This is a perfect way for Max to finish his fundraising challenge, which has been such an adventure and something he can look back on with so much pride.
"The funds he raised for North Devon Hospice in this time have made a real difference to the patients and families we support. Max has directly funded 15 nurses for a whole year. In that time, those nurses will have supported in excess of 500 patients who were facing the impact of a life-limiting illness like cancer.”
To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/max-woosey1
