AN inspirational four-year-old has walked 100 lengths of his garden in aid of the NHS despite having cerebral palsy.
Superhero Lewis Whele has raised £1,550 for a national campaign launched to provide protective equipment for doctors and nurses working on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lewis, from Coggeshall, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just six-months-old and underwent a major operation last June to improve his mobility.
He had been undergoing intensive rehabilitation through physiotherapy three times a week to strengthen his leg muscles before it was halted due to Covid-19.
But keen to keep up the momentum and do his bit during the crisis, Lewis picked up his walking sticks and signed up to the Masks for NHS Heroes campaign which sees people carry out challenges while dressed as well-known superheroes.
His mum Toni said: “Like the nation we have been watching Captain Tom Moore walking and we thought we would see if Lewis could also walk 100 lengths of the garden to help with his physio.
“Lewis can’t walk without sticks and crawls around the house.
“He cannot take any steps without his splints at all.
“We asked him to do ten lengths a day with his walking sticks and he has worn a different outfit each day.
“He has been Spider-Man, Thor, a stormtrooper, Harry Potter and the Hulk so far.
“He has had his own challenges with his cerebral palsy and people have helped us fundraising for physio.
“Now Lewis is working hard to show that their support has been worth it and also to repay the NHS for all they have done for him.”
More than 80 people have made donations on a Crowdfunder page set up online for Lewis.
The initial target of £500 has been smashed and Lewis rounded off his epic challenge by dressing as a surgeon and doing one of his last laps without his walking sticks.
His mum added: “Lewis is our little superhero. He has been out for ten days in a row even when it’s been raining.
“Every day we have seen improvements with his balance, strength and confidence.
“He’s found it a real challenge and even though it’s not a long distance to you or I, for Lewis it’s like a marathon.
“He is generally a happy boy and with some motivation from his mum and dad and he’s got there.”
To make a donation, head to crowdfunder.co.uk and search for Lewis’s superhero walk.
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