A child with cerebral palsy has set himself the challenge of walking 100 laps up his road, aided by just his walker, before his tenth birthday on 18 May – after being inspired by Colonel Tom Moore.
Ethan Beadrow, nine, from Manchester, who can’t stand unaided, appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside his mum Catherine and dad Ivan, and revealed he was hoping to raise £15, 000 to help pay for the funerals of coronavirus victims.
Explaining to presenters Ben Shepherd and Susanna Reid how he was motivated by the World War II veteran, Ethan said: ‘I saw him on the news, so I asked my mum, “Can I do that?”
‘My granddad died and we had to pay for his funeral and it cost a lot, so I asked mum if we can raise money for funerals because you don’t expect to die from COVID-19.’
Ethan Beadrow, nine, from Manchester, set himself the challenge of walking 100 laps up his road, aided by just his walker, before his tenth birthday on 18 May. Pictured, he appeared on Good Morning Britain today alongside mother Catherine and father, Ivan
The youngster was partly inspired by Colonel Tom Moore’s walker. Pictured, Ethan, during one of his 25-metre laps
Ethan explained how he was hoping to do 100 laps down the side of his house, before or on his 10th birthday – with his mum adding they’re 25 metres each.
And when Catherine was asked whether the challenge was because of Tom Moore, 100, who has so far raised over £30 million for charity after doing 100 laps of his garden, she continued: ‘It was just one day when we were doing schoolwork he just came out with it. He said, “Can we join his army? Can we join Captain Tom’s army?’
Ethan’s proud mother went on to say how her son was partly inspired by the World War 11 veteran’s walker.
‘Yes because he was in a walker, Ethan said, “Can I try?” We weren’t going to stop him. We said the more exercise he gets the better!’
She added: ‘Ethan can’t stand unaided, he has to have splints on his legs, and he can’t walk on his own. He uses his wheelchair most of the time, or he crawls around the house, being up on his feet is very difficult for him to manoeuvre.
Ethan isn’t able to stand unaided, has to have splints on his legs, and he can’t walk on his own. He uses his wheelchair most of the time. Pictured left, presenter Susanna Reid and right, Ethan with his parents
Ethan (pictured) has so far raised over £24, 000 to help pay for the funerals of coronavirus victims
Dad Ivan added: ‘He has collapsed a few times, but he just gets up again and carries on doing it.
Describing how tough it is using his walker, Ethan, who wants to complete his last lap on the Manchester City football pitch, said: ‘It hurts when I get tired, but I’m over half way there.’
Before the interview, Ethan had raised £2, 000, however, during a later segment in the show, Ben Shepherd revealed he has smashed his target and so far, raised over £24, 000.
‘Yay!’ beamed Ethan, when he heard the news.
Catherine added: ‘His courage. He’s pushing through. It’s been a big family effort with his siblings helping do the filming, getting his walker set up, and cheering him on every day.’
Ethan admitted the laps with his walker hurt when he gets tired, but that he’s over half way through his challenge now. Pictured left, presenter Ben Shepherd, and right, Ethan with his parents