Captain Tobias aiming to emulate Captain Tom Moore's fundraising efforts after completing epic challenge
Before he started his fundraising challenge two months ago, nine-year-old Tobias Weller could only manage to walk 50 metres in one go.
Yesterday the boy, nicknamed Captain Tobias by supporters, completed a marathon using a walker on the streets outside his Sheffield home – and was showered with praise by neighbours and celebrities.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTobias, who has cerebral palsy, was inspired by the fundraising exploits of Keighley-born veteran Tom Moore to attempt to walk 26.2 miles for charity.
Walking for more than 70 days, he earned a nickname similar to that of the former Army officer, and so far he has raised more than £80,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Paces School.Tobias was described as "incredible" and "an inspiration" by celebrities and sports stars, who sent him messages of support before the final leg of his journey.
He finished the challenge yesterday to cheers from the whole street, who have turned out to support him throughout the challenge.
Police closed off the Sheffield road as neighbours hung bunting and balloons for the final 750m of his marathon fundraising effort.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEarlier, Olympic heptathlon champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, pictured, professional footballer Esme Morgan and BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker sent Tobias video messages wishing him luck.
England international Ms Morgan described Tobias as an inspiration and thanked him for raising more than 80 times more than his original target of £500.
She said: "You’ve done an absolutely incredible job so far to walk as far as you have and I know you’ve been building up and building up each and every day, which is amazing.
"Honestly, what you have done is an inspiration to so many people.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Everyone at the hospital is so grateful for everything you’ve done, it’s absolutely amazing."
Dame Jessica said: "I have been following your story and I just want to say I think you are absolutely incredible. What a challenge you’ve taken on."
Mr Walker described Tobias as an “absolute superstar” and added: "What an incredible young man you are. I hear you, like many others, have been inspired by Captain Tom and you’ve raised thousands of pounds for The Children’s Hospital Charity. Thank you for that."
The money raised by Tobias, who also has autism, will help The Children’s Hospital Charity through its emergency Covid-19 appeal.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAbbie Pervin, regional fundraising manager at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: "We’re very proud of Tobias’s fantastic achievement. Not only the amazing total raised for the hospital but also the personal determination it has taken him to walk a marathon."
Money will also go to support Paces School, a non-maintained special school where the ethos is on children being challenged to reach their full potential.
Ruth Liu, headteacher at the school, said the money would be used to help build a new “state-of-the-art” facility.
She said: "It’s absolutely tremendous. We’re so proud of him."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTobias was dubbed ‘Captain Tobias’ by friends and neighbours who came out in their dozens to watch him complete 750 metres each morning, using his walker in his street in the Beauchief area of Sheffield.
His mother Ruth said Tobias was inspired by Captain Tom Moore as the inspirational veteran eventually raised over £32 million for the NHS, earning himself a knighthood.
She said: "Tobias saw Captain Tom on the TV and thought, ‘I can do that – he’s got a walker, he’s walking a long way and he’s walking for charity. And I want to do that as well’."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEditor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.
Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.
And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.
Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIf you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.
Sincerely. Thank you.
James Mitchinson