Rowan Stapleton, a nine-year-old boy from Prestwich, surprised strangers by paying for their food during the opening of Spud Bros' new pop-up at the Trafford Centre on July 18, 2026. He handed out £100 to customers, giving 10 people £10 each so they could enjoy a free meal. He also gave two free jacket potatoes to people further back in the queue.
Inspired by Kindness
The Manchester United fan said he wanted to give something back after seeing the kindness shown by Spud Bros on their TikTok videos. “I saw that they do acts of kindness and I wanted to do one back,” Rowan said. He added: “I gave £100 to people so they could get a free spud and it made me feel happier. People could get one for free and have a happy day.”
Ongoing Charitable Acts
This surprise is the latest in a growing list of charitable acts by Rowan, who has built a large following on social media documenting his efforts to help others. He buys flowers for strangers, hands out chocolates and toiletries, and provides food, drinks, and tents to people experiencing homelessness. He funds many acts using his own pocket money or through fundraising supported by his online community.
He also carries out surprise visits to people nominated by his followers, recognizing those who have supported him, gone through difficult times, or made a difference in their communities. His generosity extended to his own school, where he got new football nets after discovering the old ones were broken.
Fundraising for a Young Man with a Brain Injury
One of Rowan's biggest fundraising efforts has been supporting a young man named Callum, who lives with a brain injury and dreams of watching Manchester United at Old Trafford. After traveling more than two hours to meet him and his family, Rowan started fundraising. A hospitality box has since been gifted for them to watch a game, and the money raised, around £3,000, will continue to support Callum and his family.
Inspiration and Motivation
Rowan's inspiration came from seeing examples of people helping others. A Christmas advert showing a father who could not afford presents or electricity but built his son a gift inspired Rowan. He was also inspired by YouTube videos of MrBeast, known for large-scale generosity. “I saw videos of MrBeast doing acts of kindness, so I thought, ‘Why don’t I do it?’” Rowan said.
His mother said his generosity began before he started posting online. He always looked for opportunities to help others from a young age, and the family later decided to share his deeds on social media to encourage others. They have received messages from families across the country saying Rowan inspired them to carry out their own acts of kindness.
Future Plans
Rowan hopes his videos will continue to encourage others. “I wanted to inspire people to do it, so all the bad in the world could change to good,” he said. “When I give a gift and see the smile on their face, it makes me feel happy. I just feel lovely after giving someone something.” Despite having 67,000 followers on TikTok and being recognized by the public, Rowan insists the attention is not what drives him. “I can see myself doing it when I’m older as well,” he said. “I just want to help people.”
