Max enjoys camp out with Chiefs stars

By Mark Stevens
12/3/23

Max Woosey described his night camping with some of his Exeter Chiefs heroes at Sandy Park as simply ‘brilliant’.

The rugby-loving youngster, known to many as ‘The Boy in the Tent’ pitched up on the Sandy Park turf on Friday night for a special camp-out alongside players and coaches from the club’s men’s and women’s teams.

The 13-year-old has attracted worldwide attention for his amazing fundraising efforts after he started camping out in March 2020 to raise funds for North Devon Hospice, which helped his neighbour and family friend Rick Abbott remain in his own home as he lived with terminal cancer.

Three years on and having battled Covid lockdowns, as well as every conceivable weather condition going, Max has to date amassed over £700,000, helping to directly fund 15 nurses for a whole year at the hospice.

Told to ‘go and have an adventure’ by Rick, the young Chiefs supporter – who has previously camped out in the garden of 10 Downing Street and Twickenham Stadium – has certainly done that, earning himself a British Empire Medal, as well as awards from the Pride of Britain, Spirit of Adventure and the Bear Grylls Chief Scout Unsung Hero.

Recently, though, Max confirmed that at the end of the month he is set to bring his camping adventure to an end, including one final night out at the Broomhill Estate at Muddiford, near Barnstaple.

However, before packing away his tent and heading back into the comforts of his family home in Braunton, Max also wanted to have a special camp out at his favourite team, the Exeter Chiefs, who were delighted to offer their support.

Joined by school mate Joe West, Max and his dad camped out with Ben Moon, Richard Capstick, Harry Hocking and Fin Richardson from the men’s side, Georgie Grimes and Eden McMahon from the women’s side, as well as forwards coach, Rob Hunter.

Not only did Max and Joe get a guided tour of the stadium, but they got to watch the women’s team train ahead of their Allianz Premier 15s clash with Sale Sharks, tested out their skills with the players, as well as tuning in to Friday’s Premiership clash between Northampton Saints and Bath on the TV.