6-Year-Old Disabled Boy Raises Thousands For Healthcare Workers By Walking 10 Meters A Day

A 6-year-old disabled boy in Bristol, the United Kingdom, helped raise quite a hefty amount to support coronavirus efforts by walking 10 meters (0.006 miles) a day aided by his walker. His mother said he was inspired by Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old war veteran who raised nearly $25 million for the National Health Service (NHS), a publicly funded healthcare system that was at the forefront of COVID-19 fight in the country.

Frank Mills, who began walking only 18 months ago and grapples to cover even short distances, has facilitated funding worth $37,800, BBC reported. The money will be forwarded to NHS Charities Together, an umbrella organization that backs health service charities.

"When Frank saw Captain Tom on TV, he said, 'I want to do that',” his mother, Janet Mills, said. "So we took his walker outside and chalked up 10m on the pavement.”

Janet said Frank called on the neighbors to donate and they started a JustGiving account for friends and family. She said they were astounded to see the overwhelming response from people. "We cannot believe how people are responding," said Janet.

"People have been so generous, especially at a time when people are struggling financially. It restores your faith in humanity," Frank’s father, Tony Mills, said.

Frank suffers from spina bifida, a condition in which a baby’s spine remains ill-developed in the womb. In addition, he was born prematurely at 25 weeks.

Janet and Tony, who was all praise for the NHS for the relentless care and dedication shown toward Frank when he spent nearly five months in hospital after his birth, said that it was their way to show enormous gratitude toward the service, Metro reported.

"So many friends and neighbors have encouraged Frank, it’s been incredible! Folk have been so generous, especially at a time when people are struggling financially,” Tony said. “We would like to thank everyone who has supported Frank from the bottom of our hearts. It restores your faith in humanity.”

As many as 125,856 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom as of Tuesday, with 16,500 total deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.