Boy inspired by Capt Tom raises £ 150,000 with marathon efforts
A NINE- YEAR- OLD boy who has raised more than £ 150,000 through a series of challenges inspired by Yorkshire’s Captain Sir Tom Moore says he is “chuffed to bits” at the support he has received.
Tobias Weller – dubbed Captain Tobias by his supporters – who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed two marathonlong events since the start of the lockdown, despite being unable to walk or stand unaided.
Seven months ago he set out to raise £ 500 by walking 26.2 miles over three months through his daily exercise in his Sheffield street.
He then embarked on another marathon, this time using a race runner.
When he finished that second challenge, on August 1, he was cheered over the finish line by Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis- Hill.
Yesterday, Tobias closed his fundraising page for donations having raised £ 150,000 from more than 6,000 supporters.
The money is being split between his two favourite charities – Paces, the special school where he is a pupil in Sheffield, and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where he regularly visits for treatment.
Tobias said: “Boom! I cannot believe how much money I have raised and am chuffed to bits so many people have supported me over the past few months. Thank you to everyone who has cheered me on and donated.”
His mother Ruth Garbutt said that “£ 150,000 is a massive amount of money and I am so proud of Tobias and everything he has achieved.
“There was no way in the world we would have predicted how much support he has had – from sporting legends to the police, our friends and family to our neighbours. I am so grateful to everyone for their help, kindness and generosity.”
Despite ending this stage of his fundraising, Tobias is already planning a third marathon – this time using a new trike bought by Sheffield firm Jiraffe.