'Captain Tobias' thanks Sheffield Star readers for their 'amazing support' - as fundraising target is raised to £30,000

Tobias Weller, aged 9, who has cerebral palsy, is in the process of completing a 26.2 marathon by walking 750 metres every day on the streets around his Beauchief house.

Tobias initially set himself a target of raising £500 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Paces School, but his fundraising is going so well he has now raised his target to a massive £30,000.

Mum Ruth said they had been ‘overwhelmed’ with the response he had received.

She said: “The messages to him on Just Giving are lovely, he’s read every single one of them and there are 1,185 donations so far! He’s had lots of positive support on social media and loves reading those messages too.

“Spider-Man also came out to walk with him yesterday and delivered a hamper as a ‘well done’ from Morrison’s Hillsborough, and he’s featured on BBC Ouch which is exciting for him too.”

Ruth said that as well as the support of people across Sheffield, their response Tobias continued to get from their neighbours had been ‘wonderful’.

“The main thing that Tobias is enjoying is the clapping and cheering every day – he finds it really motivating and they are there day after day,” she said.

“The children on the street are fantastic too. One little girl has made him a friendship band, another has written 20 post-it notes of messages and a third has written him a letter and presented him with a dandelion!

“And the three neighbours dressing up in identical dressing gowns was such a lovely gesture - and hilarious.”

Tobias set himself his challenge of completing the marathon distance after the coronavirus pandemic scuppered his chances of taking part in a one-kilometre sponsored walk in May.

Nevertheless, inspired by 100-year-old walking hero Colonel Tom Moore, Tobias decided to take on an entire 26.2 mile marathon on the streets near his home instead.

Now nicknamed Captain Tobias by family and friends, as of 4pm on Monday he had raised more than £23,250.

To sponsor Tobias, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ruth-garbutt-3.