Staffordshire dad’s bid to raise £10,000 for children's charity

David, who runs the family YouTube channel Sonnie’s Adventures with his partner Beckie and their two young children, has already raised nearly £1,900 in just over three weeks by documenting the build and rallying support from the local community.

The challenge was inspired by a personal milestone, with both David and his partner Beckie turning 40 this year, the same age as Childline, which was founded in 1986. Rather than celebrating quietly, the family decided to mark the occasion by giving something back to a service that supports children and young people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Childline, part of the NSPCC, provides a free and confidential listening service, and on average receives contact from a child every 45 seconds. That statistic, David says, was a key motivator behind choosing the charity.

Instead of a traditional fundraiser, David bought a 2013 Fiat Doblo van from an online auction for £925 and began converting it into a tiny campervan. The project has already faced setbacks, including mechanical issues that left the van needing urgent repairs, but support from local businesses and the wider community has helped keep the challenge on track.

The entire build is being documented on the family’s YouTube channel, Sonnie’s Adventures, where viewers can follow the highs and lows of the project, from stripping out the van to preparing it for the road. Once completed, the campervan will be taken on a 72-hour challenge from the UK to the Nürburgring in Germany and back.

At the end of the challenge, the finished campervan will be raffled, with all proceeds going to Childline, in the hope of pushing the total fundraising figure beyond the £10,000 target.

David said: “This started as a slightly mad idea, but the response has been incredible. We’ve raised nearly £1,900 in just over three weeks, and that doesn’t even include the work and parts that have been donated to help get the van roadworthy. It’s shown us how generous people can be when they understand the cause.”

He added that seeing his two young sons, Sonnie and Elijah, record short videos asking people to support the fundraiser had been particularly moving, with many donors saying those messages encouraged them to get involved.

Local businesses have stepped in to help with mechanical work, body repairs and the camper conversion itself, while national brands and media outlets have also offered their support.

David hopes the project will not only raise vital funds, but also awareness of the work Childline continues to do 40 years after it was founded.

“Even if people can’t donate, sharing the story helps,” he said. “If this raises awareness and helps even one child get the support they need, then it’s been worth every stressful moment.”

Anyone wishing to follow the project can do so on the family’s YouTube channel, Sonnie’s Adventures, where the entire campervan build, fundraising progress and Nürburgring challenge are being documented.

Donations to support Childline can be made via the family’s JustGiving page at: justgiving.com/page/turning40

David added: “We’re sharing everything openly on YouTube so people can see exactly what we’re doing and why. The support so far has been amazing, but there’s still a long way to go to reach £10,000.”