AN inspirational five-year-old has featured in the promotional video for the Captain Tom 100 challenge in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Superhero Lewis Whele was born ten weeks early and at six months old was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

He recently underwent a life-changing operation to remove the spasticity from his lower body with the hope that it will help him to walk.

Before the pandemic Lewis has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation through physiotherapy three times a week to strengthen his leg muscles before it was halted.

During lockdown Lewis, from Coggeshall, followed in the footsteps of Captain Tom Moore, who famously completed 100 laps of his garden to raise an astonishing £32.8million for charity.

Gazette: Lewis in the promotional video for the Captain Tom 100 challengeLewis in the promotional video for the Captain Tom 100 challenge Lewis did ten laps of his garden for ten days dressed as his favourite superheroes - including Spider-Man, Thor, Harry Potter and the Hulk.

He went on to raise more than £3,000 for a national campaign launched to provide protective equipment for doctors and nurses working on the frontline.

Now the youngster has been featured in a video to promote the new Captain Tom 100 Challenge featuring a host of famous faces, including Dame Judie Dench, Dame Mary Berry and football star David Beckham.

The challenge is based around the number 100, there are no rules and it’s open to everyone.

Lewis aims to take part in the challenge by walking 100 steps without his sticks.

Nearly 30 people have made donations on a justgiving page set up online for Lewis and money raised will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to thank it for all they have done for Lewis.

The initial target of £500 is set to be smashed with £477 raised before the challenge has even begun.

Gazette: Last year Lewis walked 10 laps of his gardenLast year Lewis walked 10 laps of his garden

Lewis’ mum Toni said: “The Captain Tom team approached us to ask if Lewis would like to be involved in the new campaign and we knew straight away that we wanted to do it for GOSH to help other children.

“Last year when Lewis did his 100 lengths of his garden he did an extra one without his sticks.

“It was a massive achievement, but he’s been working hard since then and we think he can manage 100 steps this time and maybe more.”

To support Lewis, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/captaintom100-lewis.