Exmouth youngster takes on walking challenge inspired by Captain Tom

Jago Coates, aged nine, is planning to walk a mile for every year of Captain Tom’s life after 100-year-old, who rose to fame after raising £30million for the NHS following taking on a walking challenge.

Jago, who plays rugby for Withycombe Rugby Club under nines, set a fundraising target of £150 and so far has generated more than four times that total with £700 being donated for the Tom Moore Foundation.

Jago Coates (Image: Zoe Coates)

His mum Zoe said: “Peoples donations are what’s encouraging him to want to walk more and more. He is over the moon and so happy what he has raised so far.

“Myself and Justyn (Jagos dad) and family members are so happy with what Jago is doing! He’s doing an amazing thing and we are all extremely proud of him, words can’t explain how happy I am.

“Jago didn’t know Captain tom and when he saw the news he felt it was right to raise some money in Tom’s memory to help the people the way he did.

Jago on one of his walks (Image: Zoe Coates)

“Tom was the same age as a very close family Friend named Joan who was 100 years old also who sadly passed away a few days before tom. Jago would hear some amazing stories from her about the past, so Jago understood how amazing Captain Tom was being from the same generation as Joan.”

Because of lockdown and only being able to get out once a day his (daily) exercise Jago has been doing on average five or six miles a day.

The Withycombe Raleigh Primary School pupil started on Monday, February 1, and has already walked more than 30 miles.

Zoe added: “We are keeping the walks local.

“We mainly walk along the seafront through the town and back.

“We walk Littleham cycle track to bud leigh and also the cycle track to darts farm. We try to mix a few days so he enjoys the walk more.”

To donate and keep track on Jago’s progress, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jagocoates09