Boy who camped out for a year
This news report is about an 11 year old boy who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity by sleeping in a tent in his garden for almost a year. Max Woosey, from Devon, was given the tent by his neighbour and friend, Rick, who died of cancer. He told him to have adventures in the tent and Max has done just that.
Max left the comfort of his own home and has slept out every single night since the first lockdown. He has braved wind, rain and frost and amazingly even went out in a huge thunderstorm. His dad joined him in the tent for moral support but Max was actually sound asleep and slept through the whole thing!
North Devon Hospice, the charity that Max is donating the money to, are incredibly grateful and said that it's been a real lifeline. They hadn’t been able to fundraise so Max’s year under canvas has saved their bacon. He received well wishes and support from celebrities like the explorer and TV presenter, Bear Grylls and the former England Rugby player, Jonny Wilkinson. His mum said that she ‘can’t quite comprehend’ that her son has done it and is especially proud of the fact that it was ‘all off his own bat’.
In the report, it says that he’s encouraging children to join him for a big camp out. That has now happened and apparently about a thousand children all over the world took part. Some roughed it in their gardens like him and others put up tents in their living rooms.
In total Max raised £516,000 for the hospice and he received hundreds of messages of support.
The summary with vocab
This news report is about an 11 year old boy who hasraisedhundreds of thousands of pounds for charity by sleeping in a tent in his garden for almost a year. Max Woosey, from Devon, was given the tent by his neighbour and friend, Rick, who died of cancer. He told him to have adventures in the tent and Max has done just that.
Max leftthe comfort ofhis own home and hasslept outevery single night since the first lockdown. He hasbravedwind, rain andfrostand amazingly even went out in a hugethunderstorm.His dad joined him in the tent formoral supportbut Max was actuallysound asleepand slept throughthe whole thing!
North Devon Hospice, the charity that Max is donating the money to, are incredibly grateful and said that it's been a reallifeline.They hadn’t been able tofundraiseso Max’s yearunder canvashassaved their bacon.He receivedwell wishesand support from celebrities like the explorer and TV presenter, Bear Grylls and the former England Rugby player, Jonny Wilkinson. His mum said that she ‘can’t quite comprehend’ that her son has done it and is especially proud of the fact that it was ‘alloff his own bat’.
In the report, it says that he’s encouraging children to join him for a bigcamp out.That has now happened and apparently about a thousand children all over the world took part. Someroughed itin their gardens like him and others put up tents in their living rooms.
In total Max raised £516,000 for the hospice and he received hundreds of messages of support.
Glossary
raised (verb)
To collect money for a particular purpose.
the comfort of (phrase)
To be somewhere pleasant where you feel relaxed and have everything that you need
slept out (phrasal verb)
To sleep outside
braved (verb)
To have to deal with something unpleasant in order to achieve something
frost (noun)
A thin white layer of ice that you see outside, particularly in the morning, when it is very cold.
thunderstorm (noun)
A storm with thunder and lightening
moral support (noun)
To encourage someone, often by accompanying them somewhere
sound asleep (phrase)
To be sleeping deeply
slept through (phrasal verb)
To remain asleep even when there is noise around you.
lifeline (noun)
Something that is very important to someone and that they depend on
fundraise (verb)
To collect money for a charity or organisation, often by organising social events
under canvas (phrase)
In a tent
saved their bacon (phrase)
To rescue someone from a difficult situation
well wishes (noun)
When someone expresses their good wishes to someone else
off his own bat (phrase)
When someone does something off their own bat, it means that it is their own idea and they do it without any help.
camp out (phrasal verb)
To sleep outside, with or without a tent
roughed it (phrase - informal)
To live without things like water or electricity
Questions
What do you think motivated Max to persevere? Have you heard any other stories of children doing remarkable things like this?
Have you ever raised money for charity? Or has someone that you know raised money? What did you or they do?
Do you like camping? If not why not? If you do like it, where have been camping? Do you have any memorable experiences?
If you have children, would you feel comfortable with them camping out in the garden?