Bedford schoolboy walks 500 miles to support children's charity after being inspired by Captain Tom

Inspired by NHS hero Captain Tom, Bedford schoolboy Arthur Polhill has helped raise money for children’s literacy charity, Schoolreaders.

The 13-year-old came up with the idea of walking 500 miles in 100 consecutive days.

Arthur said: “Captain Tom’s incredible fundraising for the NHS really gave me the inspiration – as well as The Proclaimers’ song of course.

"I decided to walk for a charity that helps children with their reading as I was lucky enough to have online lessons from school each day during lockdown but I realise that many children will have had very little teaching since the schools closed in March.

"I know all about Schoolreaders from my mum, who does some voluntary work with the charity."

He added: "I also wanted to do something that would get me outdoors and off screens during lockdown.

"Fortunately for me, the weather has been amazing over the last few months. Lots of friends and family have joined me on walks, as well as my two dogs, Daisy and Margot, who have been great walking companions.”

Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders - which has its head office in Bedford Heights - said: “Arthur has raised a fantastic £1,000 for Schoolreaders and this will help us provide more than 60 children with a weekly one-to-one reading session with a volunteer.

"This is a terrific achievement and we are so grateful to him.”

Schoolreaders recruits volunteers to provide weekly one-to-one reading support to children in primary schools across the country and is unique in being the only nationwide charity to provide this service to schools for free.