'we salute you'

Emotional moment Ruth and Eamonn clap nine-year-old with cerebral palsy who is walking a marathon for charity

A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy with cerebral palsy has been praised by This Morning viewers over his charity challenge to raise money for the NHS.

After being inspired by Captain Tom Moore, Tobias has started walking 750 metres up and down his street every day aided by a walker.

Despite not being able to walk more the 50 metres before lockdown, brave Tobias is pushing himself to walk 26 miles.

And in a very emotional moment on TV today, presenters Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes clapped Tobias as he set off outside his Sheffield home as neighbours cheered him on.

Tobias told the hosts: "I love it when I walk my neighbours clap and cheer for me. Some even say 'we salute you captain' and that's hilarious.

"750 metres is a long way for me every day so I'm exhausted, but I'll do it whatever the weather; rain, gale force winds and even a snow flurry."

Explaining his charity challenge, mum Ruth said Tobias was working to raise a target of £30,000.

"Before lockdown he was walking a maximum of 50 metres day and really struggling to do that," she said.

"We've now built up to 750 metres per day. It's a massive challenge for him.

"But he saw Captain Tom on the TV and said 'that's like me, I want to raise money so why don't I do a sponsored walk'.

"They both use a walker, they both walk the street every day and build up, they both want to raise money for an NHS hospital. Tobias was desperate to do it.

"We looked at the time scale and thought a marathon would be possible.

"I'm bursting with pride for him."

The little boy wants to raise £30,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Paces School.

Presenter Ruth said: "You were £650 off that when we came on air. This Morning would like to donate £650 to get you up to £30,000.

"Tobias you are an incredible young man, we salute you."

They then watched Tobias start on his walk for the day.

Eamonn added: "That is such a thing for that child do to. That's amazing to see people doing that. It all means so much and it's adding money to his JustGiving page.

"It's nice when the country comes together and people do good things. It's excellent."

After appearing on the ITV daytime show, Tobias had reached an incredible £33,752 within minutes.

You can donate, here.