A four-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has been hailed as a 'mini Captain Tom' after completing an extraordinary fundraising challenge, running over 100 miles to support his school in Devon.
Inspiring Fundraising Effort
Jacob Fallows, from Bow in Devon, has raised an impressive £1,160 for Bow School, surpassing the initial target of £1,000. Throughout January, Jacob ran laps of his school playground using his walking frame, covering a remarkable 158 kilometres, equivalent to approximately 98 miles.
Community Participation
The fundraising initiative saw widespread community involvement, with other children, friends, and family members joining Jacob in his efforts. Collectively, the participants ran a total distance of 1,234 kilometres, which is roughly the same as running from John O'Groats to Calais.
Jacob's father, Lee Fallows, expressed immense pride in his son's achievement. "We enjoy raising money for good causes and that's the primary thing," Lee stated. "It's also demonstrating that our little boy might well be disabled, and there are things that he can't do - but there's a huge amount of things he can do. One of those is bringing people together."
Family Tradition of Giving
This is not the first time the Fallows family has engaged in charitable activities. Inspired by Lee's own charity run three years ago, the family has made it an annual tradition to support local causes. Previous fundraisers in 2024 and 2025 raised money for Branch House, a charity that has provided ongoing support to Jacob throughout his life.
Supporting School Initiatives
The funds raised will be directed towards enhancing the educational experience at Bow School, where Jacob began mainstream education in September and is currently in his reception year. The money will support school trips, essential equipment, and various extracurricular activities, benefiting all pupils.
Lee added, "We've raised over £1,100 so far, which is absolutely brilliant - but I want to raise more!" The family has received overwhelming support from the community, with many students' families, friends, and grandparents contributing by adding their own walking distances to the total.
Jacob's story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that determination and community spirit can have, inspiring others to overcome challenges and contribute to meaningful causes.
