A truck ‘obsessed’ seven-year-old boy with ‘no friends’ to invite to his birthday is in for a big surprise this weekend when a huge convoy of lorry drivers will turn up to help him celebrate his big day.
New Zealand youngster Oliver Johnson, from Hamilton, caught the attention of the nation’s big rig workers after a heartbreaking post from his mother Katherine went viral.
In the Facebook post Katherine, known as Kassie, wrote: “Looking for a truck driver to help a little boy he has no friends and no one to invite to his party he is a wonderful boy.” (sic)
The post continued that the family would pay $50 NZ dollars to anyone who would drive Oliver around the block in a lorry.
She said Oliver was feeling “lonely” and the ride in the wagon would “make him smile”, the New Zealand Herald reports.
Kassie told the paper: “Ollie knows every single name of every single truck and every single truck company. He gets the trucking magazine every month.
“All he wants to do is be a truck driver. He is just obsessed.”
Now more than 60 truck drivers have answered the call and Barry Hart, owner of Hart Haulage, has organised an entire convoy to head to Oliver’s home for his birthday on Sunday. It’s reported Oliver will also be treated to a trip to the company depot and a ride around Hamilton.
Posting on the Hart Haulage Facebook page the firm issued a statement “Calling all our Hamilton based friends”.
It read: “I hoping to help organise a convoy for a young fella who turns eight on Sunday July 9, chatting with his family he loves trucks but feels like he’s alone in the world. So, we wanted to join with an already strong number of our friends in the industry to see if we can make Ollie’s birthday, one to remember.
“The plan is to meet at the new Waitomo fuel station at 10.30am and look to leave at 11am. From there we will journey passed Ollie’s home to pick him up where he can choose his truck to go for a ride in. Then we will convoy to our yard at 68 Gordonton road where we can hang out with Ollie and take some to to catch up with other truckers from the area. Why not use this to check in with ya (sic) mates too.
“If you are keen, please pm me and confirm you and your truck will be there. Bring a couple of sausages for the bbq and maybe a lemonade.
“If you can help with photography or anything else to help make this young man’s day please let us know. Hope to see a few trucks around. We do have limited space so will be trucks/tractor units only no trailers.”
