#Chances4Children: Boy, 11, swaps tent for London Zoo to support disadvantaged children
Fiona Simpson
Monday, July 5, 2021
An 11-year-old boy who has spent 459 nights sleeping in a tent to raise funds for charity has swapped his garden for a night at London Zoo.
Max Woosey began sleeping in his tent at the beginning of lockdown last year in memory of a family friend who gifted the youngster a tent to “have an adventure in” before dying from cancer.
-
Special report: Social mobility in the early years
-
#Chances4Children: Call for sport to bring children together
Last year Max raised £500,000 for North Devon Hospice through sponsorship after hearing the hospice’s fundraising events had been cancelled due to Covid-19.
Max is now using his adventurous streak to support Action For Children’s Boycott Your Bed campaign which aims to provide food, shelter and emergency funds for struggling families.
The schoolboy kicked off the event at London Zoo where he helped staff take care of his favourite animals Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs before camping out next to the lion enclosure.
Max said: “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.”
Dr Tim O’Neill, Action for Children’s managing director of children’s services, added: “Having boycotted his own bed for over a year now, Max is the ultimate adventurer and we can’t wait to see what he gets up to through the night at the zoo.
“We’re asking you to join Max and sign up to the sleep out to support children who have been hit hardest by the pandemic.
“Our services across the UK tell us that more families are facing financial hardship than ever before and vulnerable children are paying the price.”
Boycott Your Bed takes place on 9 July and will see Action for Children host a virtual event, to connect thousands of people bedding down in unusual places across the UK.
The live night of entertainment will include a performance from magician Dynamo alongside a host of famous faces including Jess Hynes, Lydia Bright, Jake Quickenden, Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice and Luba Mushtuk, TV presenter Laura Hamilton, Angela Rippon and DJ Charlotte de Carle.
Sign up for Boycott your Bed at www.boycottyourbed.co.uk
