Truck drivers turn up to lonely boy’s birthday party in Hamilton, New Zealand

• Truck-obsessed Ollie Johnson will turn 8 on Sunday
• His mother asked if truckie could take him for a drive 
• Birthday boy will be surprised by convoy of 35 trucks

Truck drivers in a New Zealand have rallied together to give a and truck-obsessed little boy a birthday to remember.

Ollie Johnson, 7, from Hamilton on the North Island will celebrate his eighth birthday on Sunday with a surprise convoy of over 35 trucks and semi-trailers.

His mother, Katherine, posted on a local Facebook page offering to pay a truck driver $50 to simply take her son around the block on his special day.

‘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 and we are wondering if there’s any truck drivers who can take him around the block,’ her post read.

Ms Johnson said her post has since ‘blown up’ with 35 truck drivers offering to take part in ‘Ollie’s Convoy’ – which is now so big it requires a police escort.

‘Ollie is in quite poor health and is off school a lot,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘I just wanted one driver to take him for a little ride to surprise him on his birthday, and I offered to pay them $50 as a courtesy thing.

‘It has now completely blown up. People are sending presents, cakes, and food for the truck drivers from the North and South Island to bring to Ollie.’

Ms Johnson said the post really took off after it was picked up by trucking boss Barry Hart, the owner of transportation service Hart Haulage. 

Mr Hart offered his own fleet of trucks for the birthday surprise and has encouraged dozens of drivers to take part in ‘Ollie’s Convoy’.

‘He doesn’t like seeing children go without,’ Ms Johnson said. 

‘So he wanted to jump behind us. Now so many people want to be his friend.’

The drivers involved in the convoy will meet at the Waitomo fuel station at 10:30am before one truck travels to Ollie’s home to pick him up.  

The birthday boy will then join the rest of the convoy and make the 10-minute drive to the Hart Haulage yard where donated food and cake will be provided. 

Ms Johnson said her son’s story had become so big in New Zealand that people on the street were recognising Ollie from the TV.

She is amazed the surprise hasn’t been spoiled, even after the story came on the radio when mother and son were driving earlier this week. 

‘He turned to me and said ‘That’s a lucky little boy Mummy’,’ she said. 

‘I’m blown away by the community and the generosity of New Zealand.’

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate wrote her heart was ‘warmed by this wonderful kind initiative from a Hamilton business’. 

Hart Haulage made a call out to local truck drivers earlier this week.  

‘I’m hoping to help organise a convoy for a young fella who turns 8 on Sunday 9th July,’ a post on their Facebook page read.  

‘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 post received hundreds of likes as well as dozens of offers from local truckies. 

‘Wow, Hart Haulage…this is human nature at its finest! At a time when there’s so much sad news, this is hartwarming (pun intended),’ one woman wrote. 

‘Well done, and wishing each one of you every success in your businesses, as you deserve it for making Ollie’s day so special.’