Courageous and kind-hearted Sheffield schoolboy increases fundraising target for lockdown marathon to help more city children

A courageous and kind-hearted Sheffield schoolboy with cerebral palsy who set out to raise £500 during lockdown has raised £20,000 so far and set himself another target to help as many city children as possible.
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Nine-year-old Tobias Weller, who uses a walking frame, walks 750 metres along his street in Beauchief each morning in his effort to complete a lockdown marathon.

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Spurring him on is his wish to raise as much money as possible for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Paces School in High Green, which he attends for special support for his needs.

Tobias Weller, who has cerebral palsy, is cheered on by neighbours as he walks along the street outside his home in Beauchief, Sheffield, as he strives to complete a lockdown marathon for charity (Pic: Joe Giddens/PA)Tobias Weller, who has cerebral palsy, is cheered on by neighbours as he walks along the street outside his home in Beauchief, Sheffield, as he strives to complete a lockdown marathon for charity (Pic: Joe Giddens/PA)
Tobias Weller, who has cerebral palsy, is cheered on by neighbours as he walks along the street outside his home in Beauchief, Sheffield, as he strives to complete a lockdown marathon for charity (Pic: Joe Giddens/PA)
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Tobias, dubbed Captain Tobias by family and friends after the youngster was inspired by the fundraising efforts of Captain Tom Moore, who raised over £32 million for the NHS during lockdown, is half-way through his marathon.

The schoolboy’s initial hope had been to raise £500 but he has smashed his target and is now aiming for £25,000.

As of 8pm tonight, over 1,000 individual donations had been made and Tobias had raised over £20,200.

His proud mum Ruth, who accompanies Tobias on his daily walk as he clocks up the miles in front of cheering neighbours, said she was overwhelmed at the support so far.

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“It is overwhelming how generous the people of Sheffield have been in their support of Tobias,” she said.

“We have a scarecrow in our garden, as all our neighbours do to represent key workers, and ours is a superhero with post in his hands, so our lovely postman is among those to have donated. We are so grateful to everyone like him who has been touched by what Tobias is doing to help other children across Sheffield.”

She added: “Please help us to help Tobias to achieve his goal of raising money for his two favourite charities and completing a marathon so he can help other children benefit in the way he has from these charities.”

One of those to donate is Dave Playforth, who said: “Fantastic achievement Tobias, my daughter spent so much of her young life in Sheffield Children’s Hospital. I'm more than fully aware how amazing everyone there is they deserve every penny raised.

“Stay safe and keep well, you are an inspiration."

Click HERE to donate.

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