Boy Spent Over 1000 Days in a Tent in His Backyard and Raised $700,000 for Charity

This boy’s story has made quite a stir. At the age of 10, he bravely decided to trade the comfort of a warm bed for a tent for three whole years. The young Max Woosey, who didn’t shy away from adversity, gained popularity, which he used wisely and in a very mature fashion.

Max’s story began in 2020. He had a strong friendship with his neighbor Rick, who was 74 years old. The latter was ill and spent the last months of his life in hospice, where he was under constant care. After a while, Max found out that the hospice had funding problems. So the boy decided to come to their aid in memory of Rick.

It turns out that Rick, as an avid camper, had given the boy his tent. The old man made the boy promise to go on adventures with it. When the hospital where Rick was being cared for needed help, Max decided it was time to use this gift. Despite his parents’ protests, he pitched the tent in the backyard of his house and opened a fundraiser to help the hospice.

Taking his puppy, Digby, with him, the boy spent three years in his tent, braving the elements. Despite freezing temperatures and gale force winds, the boy bravely stayed in his tent and never regretted his decision: “It’s been a brilliant three years.” In that time Max managed to raise £612,000. In just one year, the boy funded the work of 15 nurses, who cared for 500 patients battling serious illnesses, including cancer.

The boy’s act hasn’t gone unnoticed. He received the Pride of Britain Spirit of Adventure Award and the Chief Scout Unsung Hero Award from Bear Grylls. In May 2022 he was awarded the British Empire Medal and later gave a TedX talk.

By the age of 13, Max had gained an incredible experience: 1,000 nights in a tent and almost £700,000 raised in aid of the hospital in memory of his late friend and the care he received. Hospice staff call him a true hero, thanks to whom many people were helped. On social media, Max modestly calls himself “boy in the tent” and is now preparing for the end of his endeavor: “I think it’s gonna feel a bit weird coming back inside but...time has come to an end sadly. The next adventure’s waiting for me.”