A nine-year-old body with cerebral palsy and autism says he is determined to copy the fundraising endeavours of Captain Tom Moore by completing a lockdown marathon challenge.
Tobias Weller has been dubbed Captain Tobias by friends and neighbours who come out in their dozens to watch him complete 750 metres each morning, using his walker in his street in the Beauchief area of Sheffield.
The enthusiastic nine-year-old has already reached the halfway point of his marathon walk.
Tobias has raised more than £16,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Paces School, and intends to add thousands more before his challenge is complete at the end of May.
“I saw Captain Tom and he was using his walker, I think he’s awesome,” Tobias said.
“Yesterday I reached the half-way point – that’s 21,100 metres. It was amazing. The whole street came out to clap me.
“It’s a very long way to walk, but I am finding it a bit easier every day.”
Initially Tobias planned to walk 1km in his local park but is now walking 750m daily until he completes the marathon challenge.
Proud mum Ruth Garbutt told the BBC: "He wanted to complete the sponsored walk in May and was disappointed he couldn't do it.
"When he heard about Captain Tom's challenge, he kind of saw the similarities and decided to replace his sponsored walk with a marathon attempt.
"He is very motivated to do it every single day which is fantastic."
Tobias started the challenge on March 21 and hopes to be finished before the end of May.
Money raised from his fundraiser will go to Paces School's new fundraising campaign "A New Home for Paces" to provide a new school with improved facilities.
Ms Garbutt added that the walking is good physiotherapy for Tobias as he has been missing the daily physiotherapy he usually receives at Paces School.
Captain Moore celebrated his 100th birthday today as his fundraiser for NHS Charities Together reached a staggering £30 million.
His milestone birthday was marked with a RAF flypast. The Second World War veteran received many messages from well-wishers on his special day, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
To support Tobias' efforts visit his fundraising page.
