Schoolboy charity fundraiser asks for community's help to learn to walk
10-year-old Ethan Beardow is raising money for physio so he can fulfill his dream of walking onto the pitch as a mascot for Manchester City.
Last updated 12th Feb 2021
A schoolboy from Gorton who raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity, inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore, is now hoping the community will rally to support him - on his quest to learn to walk unaided.
10-year-old Ethan Beardow, who has cerebral palsy, needs intensive physio which currently isn't provided on the NHS if he's to gain the strength to walk without his frame.
Last year, inspired by the 100-year-old war veteran, Ethan raised £69,000 to support those affected by coronavirus by doing 25m laps of a track with his walker - he was invited to finish his challenge at The Etihad stadium, as a life long supporter of Manchester City.
His family is now fundraising to pay for physio sessions that will hopefully help him gain more independence.
He's spurred on by an offer he can't refuse - to become a mascot for the blues when COVID19 restrictions are lifted. He's told us he doesn't want to take his frame onto the pitch:
"I'm going to be a mascot when everything has settled down - I would literally do anything to walk unaided."
You can support Ethan's fundraising campaign HERE.
His mum Kathryn says it would mean the world to them: "Ethan's dream is to walk alongside the players so we want to build his strength up so that he will be able to manage that when the time comes.
"One of the things he said to us recently brought a tear to our eyes. He asked me if he could walk in the snow because he's never felt snow under his feet before. That's a difficult pill to swallow when your ten-year-old hasn't experienced something that everyone else takes for granted.
"His physio and equipment is very expensive which is why we've set up the fundraising page. He needs private physio and he wants to continue to do more challenges and raise more money to help other people."