The Great British Campout
1373. Ian Alcorn
Ian Alcorn, from Nottingham, set up ‘The Great British Campout’ for families across the UK to camp out in their back gardens with a range of virtual activities put on by Ian in exchange for a £2 donation for NHS Charities.
For the VE Day weekend, Ian hosted a bank holiday camping festival with family crafts, quizzes and activities, which has brought his fundraising total to over £170,000.
In a personal letter to Ian, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“As our country has come together to protect our NHS and save lives, I have been so uplifted by the ingenious ways in which people have adapted their lives to follow the rules, while having fun, staying in touch and helping others.
“There is no better example than “The Great British Campout,” through which you have inspired thousands of people to go camping safely in their back gardens, while connecting with each other through a host of virtual activities and raising over £170,000 for our wonderful NHS.
“On behalf of the whole country, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you! And I hope the weather will be good for your next Great British Campout tomorrow!”
Ian said:
“Thank you. I am truly delighted to be recognised for this honour, which I accept on behalf of all of those who have donated to the Great British Campout, and I dedicate it to our wonderful NHS staff.
“Lockdown has been testing for us all, so to help people cope by camping in their gardens or camper vans, as well as helping their mental health, means the world to me. The pandemic has isolated so many of us, so knowing that I have made a difference and helped raise vital funds for the NHS Charities Together along the way is awesome.”