Tobias Weller from Sheffield, United Kingdom can only walk around 50m (55 yards) everyday because of his cerebral palsy.
He was deeply moved by the story of Colonel Tom Moore, the WWII veteran who raised over $37 million by walking 100 laps around his garden for his 100th birthday.
Thus, in an incredible effort, Tobias has covered a full-marathon worth of distance in a similar bid to raise money for the National Health Service workers who have been working tirelessly for the Britons.
By walking almost 750 meters everyday since late March, Tobias has managed to raise more than $46,000. People on and offline have dubbed Weller ‘Captain Tobias’ in respect of now-Col. Moore. Col. Moore was originally a captain who was just recently promoted for his incredible work.
As you can see from the picture above, Weller was not alone in his long yet incredibly meaningful journey. He was accompanied not only by his mother but also the neighbors, who greeted and cheered for this young hero who was doing his share in a difficult time.
His mother, Ruth Garbutt, said in a TV interview that she was so proud of her son. She also said that she could see how Tobias became more confident as he continued on with this challenge.
Garbutt said that she could see many similarities between her son and Col. Moore. They both had to use walkers, yet limited mobility did not stop them from going ahead in doing great things for the community.
Tobias himself said that the walks were pleasant because he could feel the warmth and support of his neighbors. He shares the story of how one neighbor said they salute him for what he was doing. He said it definitely was a challenge to walk more than 50 meters when he first began his challenge.
His mother went on to explain that she and her son decided to walk because Tobias’ school also closed due to the pandemic. Since he usually got his physiotherapy at school, they needed a way for him to exercise.
They said they wanted to use Tobias’ challenge in a meaningful way but were unable to think of one until they saw Col. Moore’s story on television.
We salute Tobias and his mother for their actions and also to Col. Moore for showing the world the power of kind influence. Share this story with your friends, and be sure to follow us on Facebook for more stories like this one.
Replaced!