Meet Gregor Corse, 5-year-old with neurological condition raises $100,000 for charity by walking 30 laps daily for 30 days, wins Pride of Britain award, now wants to plan another fundraiser to help others

A five-year-old boy from Scotland has won hearts with his determination to help others, raising more than $100,000 for charity by walking laps around his house. Gregor Corse, from the Orkney Islands, took on the challenge despite living with an undiagnosed neurological condition that affects his balance and motor skills. His inspiring efforts have earned him the title of Youngest Fundraiser of the Year at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards.According to PEOPLE, Gregor was born with the condition and took longer than expected to reach developmental milestones. His mother, Iona, recalled that he began crawling at around two and a half years old and took his first steps at almost four.How Stephen Hendry inspired Gregor Corse to walkGregor’s journey towards independent walking began with an unexpected source of inspiration: British snooker player Stephen Hendry.His mother told PEOPLE that Gregor had been watching Hendry on YouTube when he expressed a desire to walk around his own pool table.“Gregor has a little pool table,” Iona explained. “I was sitting in front of the TV when he said, ‘Mommy, I’d love to be able to walk around the table like Stephen Hendry.’”Iona helped him walk around the table using his pool cue as a walking stick. Soon, Gregor let go and continued walking on his own.To encourage him further, she created a reward chart featuring small pool balls she had painted and arranged in a triangle. Each time Gregor walked from one room to another, he could choose a ball and place it on the chart.“That really motivated him,” she said.Although Gregor gradually began walking independently at home, he continued to use a walking frame outdoors. Eventually, he told his mother that he wanted to walk outside like other children.Gregor takes on a 30-day walking challenge for charityDetermined to help her son achieve his goal, Iona supported Gregor as he decided to walk 30 laps around their house every day for 30 days.He initially wanted to complete 50 laps daily, but his mother felt it was important to set a manageable target.“He originally thought he could do 50, but I didn’t want to make it too difficult,” she said.The mother-son duo decided to raise money for Inclusive Orkney, a local charity that supports children with additional needs.Iona admitted that she initially hesitated before launching the fundraising campaign on JustGiving.“I was about to publish the JustGiving page when I wondered if it was silly to ask people to donate,” she recalled. “I nearly closed it, but then I thought that even a couple of hundred pounds would be better than nothing.”What began as a personal challenge soon grew into a community-wide effort.Local businesses, police and firefighters rally behind GregorGregor wore a kilt on the first day of his walking challenge. When he wore a jacket displaying a local business’s logo the following day, Iona saw an opportunity to involve more businesses in the initiative.“I asked Gregor to name the local businesses that meant something to him, and we made a list,” she said. “Fueled by adrenaline, I messaged them to ask if they’d sponsor a day. Everyone was delighted to do it.”As news of Gregor’s efforts spread, neighbours began asking if they could join him. Local media covered his journey, while police officers and firefighters also turned up to show their support.“It became an event for Gregor, not just a walking challenge,” Iona told PEOPLE.Gregor said the challenge made him feel stronger. He particularly enjoyed seeing a fire engine and a lorry arrive to support him.Reflecting on the response from the community, Iona described the experience as deeply moving.“There was so much support, and people gave Gregor gifts,” she said. “He’d never had anything like that before. ‘Heartwarming’ is probably the best word.”Gregor Corse raises more than $100,000 for Inclusive OrkneyGregor’s walking challenge has raised more than £80,000, equivalent to approximately $106,000, for Inclusive Orkney.His fundraising achievement also earned him recognition at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards, where he was named Youngest Fundraiser of the Year.Iona recalled bursting into tears when she received the news that her son had won the award. The call came shortly after she dropped him off at preschool, on the 19th anniversary of her grandmother’s death.“I was thinking how much I wished she could see Gregor and how proud she’d be,” she said.Iona admitted that she never expected Gregor to receive the honour, particularly given the number of children recognised for their extraordinary efforts.“I never expected it. To me, he’s the most phenomenal boy in the world, but there are so many other children doing amazing things that you hear about on Pride of Britain,” she explained. “I never, in my wildest dreams, thought he’d win.”What’s next for Gregor?Despite the scale of his achievement, Gregor may not be finished with fundraising. According to Iona, he has already asked whether he can take on another challenge to help people.“For a child of 4 or 5 to say he wants to do another fundraiser to help people, I think that shows how much this has done for his mindset,” she said.While Iona is unsure whether Gregor fully understands the significance of his award, he is excited about attending the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Monday, October 19.For now, the young fundraiser has a simple message for everyone who supported his efforts.“Thank you,” Gregor said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.