A nine-year-old boy afflicted with cerebral palsy completed a 26-mile marathon challenge and raises £37,000 (approx.
$46,000) for the NHS.
Due to his condition, Tobias Weller was only able to walk 50 meters everyday while using a frame before quarantine, but can now walk for 750 meters.
After being inspired by the 100-year-old Colonel Tom Moore, the boy from Sheffield originally planned to walk 1 km to raise money for the local school and hospital.
His mother, Ruth Garbutt, said in an interview how she is “bursting with pride” for her son, as his “confidence and self belief” massively improved while doing the challenge.
Garbutt explained how Colonel Tom Moore inspired Tobias, and how he desperately want to do the challenge.
“We saw him on the TV, and they’re so similar. They both use a walker, they both did the same walk every day and wanting to build it up,” she said. “We walk every day whatever the weather, although it’s often sunny. I’ve walked through rain and gale force winds.”
She admits how this is a huge challenge for the boy, and how he significantly increased his ability over time.
“Tobias has got cerebral palsy, so he’s got a walker to walk and pre-lockdown he was walking a maximum 50m a day and really struggling to do that,” shared Garbutt.
Now affectionately called Captain Tobias, he was unable to receive his regular physiotherapy during the pandemic, and turned to walking down the road as a form of exercise.
Garbutt said, “When we were first in lockdown we realised we were going to be in for a while – Tobias is vulnerable.”
“Tobias’ school provides physiotherapy for him, so I was going to be responsible for his physio and we needed to walk every day and we needed a routine,” she added.