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World War II hero Captain Tom Moore triumphed today when he completed the final 10 stretches of his garden in a zimmer frame, and raised a staggering £ 12 million for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 99-year-old man, who has captured the public imagination with his heroism, completed the final steps of his 2,530-yard walk at his home in the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire with a beaming smile.
Before Captain Moore began the final stage of his challenge in today’s morning sunlight, he was greeted when he came out with his frame by four Yorkshire Regiment soldiers who had traveled to support him.
He received an enthusiastic greeting on the final leg of his walk that has seen donated money from people in 53 countries. The World War II veteran bowed his head and smiled as his medal chest in his suit gleamed.
Speaking after finishing, an emotional Captain Moore told BBC Breakfast: ‘I never dreamed that I would be involved on such an occasion. We are doing very well, and knowing that the reason we started was because of the NHS.
He added: ‘I think everyone should remember that in the end we will get through it, everything will be fine, but it can take time. All people find it difficult at this time, the sun will shine again and the clouds will go away.
Michael Ball then sang “Never Never Walk Alone” from his home, after saying, “It is an extraordinary achievement. I have been trying to think of a song that sums up your achievement and what you have done for us.
Captain Tom Moore reacts as he completes length 100 of his backyard at Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, today
Captain Tom Moore received an enthusiastic greeting at the end of his walk today that has seen donations arrive
Captain Moore, a 99-year-old veteran, today completing length 100 of his backyard at his home in Marston Moretaine.
When asked about the song, Captain Moore said, “ First of all, Michael is a super singer. I think it is true that people, we will not walk alone, wherever you are there are other people thinking of you thinking that soon everything will improve and we will all smile again. ”
After sitting next to his daughter, he saw a compilation of athletes and celebrities praising him for his achievement, including cricketer Ben Stokes, former race car driver Damon Hill, and television character Judge Judy.
Colonel of his former regiment, Brigadier General Andrew Jackson, described him as a “legend”. Later, tears welled up in Captain Moore’s eyes during a BBC Breakfast interview when he was told that he had been an inspiration to millions.
When asked what he thinks about the potential of being a knight, Captain Moore told the program: “It would be wonderful to have that honor, but I don’t expect any of it.” I think it would be absolutely huge if I were a gentleman, to be Sir Thomas Moore, I had never heard anything like this before
And speaking of the Queen, she added: “I think the Queen is wonderful and she is doing such an excellent job because all the time that she has been Queen she has been the leader of the country, and I have great appreciation for her.” I hope she continues as queen for a long time.
And on his 100th birthday on April 30, Captain Moore said, ‘Well, originally we were going to have a big party here with all my friends and relatives and we were all imagining what it would be like.
Captain Tom Moore finished the final steps of his 2,530-yard walk at his Bedfordshire home today, live at the BBC Breakfast
Captain Moore was greeted this morning by four soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment who had traveled to support him.
Captain Moore, pictured today, has raised £ 12 million for the NHS after receiving donations for his fundraising challenge.
Captain Tom Moore has made news in the media around the world, with donations from people in 53 different countries.
‘For so long people have said’ are you going to have a birthday party? ‘I probably hope to be invited, but I’m afraid that cannot happen now because everyone has to be six meters from me.
“But today is really something special with all of you here and all the kind people who watch and all of you who present money.” And that’s enough for me, and I hope they are well enough to be here when we have a proper party.
‘But that will not happen for a while because we are going to be locked up for a little while longer. I feel like people are in a very limited space for week after week, it must be very, very difficult, and I congratulate everyone who sticks to the rules and stays in their own homes. ”
Claire Baxter, who works for her local surgery and detected his skin cancer, said today that she was “tearful” at his accomplishments, adding: “We are very proud of him, adore him and are honored to be able to look at him.” after him.
‘He is a true gentleman. I really love him. It is every time you enter. He sees me twice a week since May to get dressed and he always comes with a smile on his face: how am I, how is my family. We both enjoyed Formula One, so we talked about it. It is a joy to see him. We miss him so much, but we are glad he is safe and well.
Ian Lush, President of NHS Charities Together, which Captain Moore is supporting, said: ‘It was extraordinary, I feel a particular personal connection because Captain Tom was in Burma in India at the end of the war, and also my late father who was the Major Cecil Lush, of the engineers, and they may well have met.
“It is extraordinary to see the amount of money and the outpouring of goodwill towards the NHS and all the NHS charities that will take care of the money it is raising.”
When asked what happens to the money, he said: ‘There are about 150 NHS charities that will benefit from this money, we are a membership organization and now a large fundraising organization, I am the president and I run one of the 150 charities that is Imperial Health Charity: we support three hospitals.
“ We are spending money to support staff in times of crisis, we are supporting wellness, we are making pods for them to sleep in hospitals so they don’t have to go home between shifts.
‘We are doing counseling, we are doing all kinds of things, but we are also saving money so that we have money to help us over the next 18 months or so to support the staff.
‘We also support patients and families with our social assistance grants, so there are many different ways the money will be used. We are all charities with a lot of experience using these types of funds, so we will make sure you go to the right places. ”
World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore, 99, yesterday at his home in the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire
Captain Moore was sent to India where he fought in the Arakan Campaign from 1942 to 1943 during World War II.
Her daughter Hannah Ingram Moore told MailOnline that she was “amazed” by the £ 12m her father had raised so far. “It is just amazing and I am sure it will go higher when the hike is over,” she said.
He added that his father had become “a beacon of hope for people” in difficult times and that donations were “beyond words” as the country struggles with a pandemic that has claimed more than 12,000 lives.
Moore also said that the local postmaster had already been ‘inundated’ with messages ahead of Captain Moore’s 100th birthday, which will be presented within fifteen days on April 30.
Major Ian Atkins of the Yorkshire Regiment, who is the equivalent of Captain Moore today, said today at his home: ‘It is an honor and a privilege for us to be here to support Tom in an exceptional achievement.
‘It is absolutely fantastic, but over £ 12 million is amazing. We see Tom as a member of the regiment family, so being here to support him is a privilege. ‘
Uniformed soldiers were on hand to cheer on the ‘fantastic captain’ as he completed ten stretches of his home garden.
Previously, Captain Moore had said that NHS workers on the front line “deserve all we can give them,” and told ITV: “I have always been one for having a future, I always believe that things will be good.” We have fought so many battles and we have always won and we will win again. ”
Captain Tom Moore appears today on ITV’s Good Morning Britain with his daughter, Hannah Ingram Moore.
Captain Moore married Pamela in 1968 and they had two daughters, Lucy and Hannah. The wedding is portrayed in 1968
Such is the fame of Captain Moore: Half a dozen policemen were stationed outside the front door of the house he shares with his daughter and family.
And Captain Moore told MailOnline that instead of standing up for a well-deserved break, he plans to continue walking and raise even more money.
He said: ‘I have completed my 100 laps, but I am going to keep walking because I know I have the amazing British crowd behind me every step of the way.
“I am completely overwhelmed by everyone’s support and cannot thank them enough for supporting my mission of raising money for our beloved NHS.”
Hannah, with whom she has lived for 12 years, said she was filled with pride for her father who celebrates his 100th birthday later this month.
She said: ‘We knew we could do 100 laps of the garden, no doubt, but never in a million years did we expect to raise this amount of money.
‘Everyone is talking about Captain Tom Moore, and that makes me incredibly proud as his daughter. I have seen the entire nation fall in love with my father, and he deserves all the love, appreciation, and support for his incredible mission. So thanks from all of us.
The World War II hero, who joined the army in 1940 when he was 20, had set out to raise £ 1,000 by walking slowly 100 stretches of his garden before celebrating his 100th birthday.
But inspired by the messages of support that flooded his family, he released 90 lengths in just over a week. He completed the last ten laps of the original challenge this morning.
He had wanted to raise money to thank the NHS staff who had supported him through the treatment of skin cancer and a hip fracture. When word of her fundraising spread through social media, she quickly topped the total of £ 1,000.
So far, more than 180,000 people from around the world have donated to their fundraising page. The sum quickly moved to £ 1 million and by yesterday, a week after his epic trek began, the total exceeded £ 9 million.
With the completion of the final installments, many more donations are expected, and MailOnline columnist Piers Morgan has called for him to be knighted.
Ellie Orton, executive director of the charity on the receiving end of Captain Moore’s fundraiser, said: “ I think I am absolutely joining the rest of the country to be truly inspired and deeply humiliated by Captain Tom and what he has done. accomplished. Thank you for being an inspiration and a role model. ‘
Captain Tom started the last laps at 7.45 am today, seen by BBC and ITV film crews. Before we started, he paid tribute to the NHS and said, “I feel good. Being in the military, I’m used to getting up early.”
The former Army officer admitted being surprised by the response to his fundraising efforts, saying the support has been “absolutely terrific.”
Captain Tom Moore has exceeded his fundraising goals and has now raised over £ 12 million for the NHS
In a call to the nation, he added: ‘Let’s go ahead and remember that things will get better. We have had problems before, we have overcome them, and we will all overcome the same again. ”
The money the war hero has raised will go to NHS Charities Together to support workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.
Captain Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army for World War II, moving up to captain and serving in India and Myanmar.
He then went on to serve on the Arakan in Southeast Asia before returning to Britain to become an instructor at the School of Armored Combat Vehicles in Bovington.
His accomplishments were noted by Matt Hancock during yesterday’s Downing Street press conference.
In his opening speech, the Secretary of Health said: ‘I want to pay a special tribute to Captain Tom Moore today. Captain Tom, you are an inspiration to all of us and we appreciate it.
At the time, donations had exceeded £ 8 million, but just after 11 p.m. yesterday, the figure had risen by another £ 2 million.
The military veteran wrote on Twitter: ’10 MILLION POUNDS! Virtutis Fortuna is coming.
Previously, he told BBC One: ‘I think it is absolutely huge. At no time when we started this exercise did we anticipate that we would get anything close to that kind of money.
“It just shows that people have great regard for the affairs of our National Health Service and it’s really surprising that people have paid so much money.”
Meanwhile, an eight-year-old girl has started an online campaign for boys to make birthday cards for Captain Moore’s 100th birthday.
Reegan Davies of Port Talbot, South Wales set a goal of 1,500 virtual cards after posting an online video to thank him for his fundraising efforts.
She says in the video posted on Twitter: “You have to make a birthday card for Tom, whatever social media you post, and tag £ makeacardfortom.”
JustGiving said Captain Moore has raised the highest total for a single campaign on the website.
A spokesperson added: ‘To celebrate the achievement of the £ 10 million milestone and the completion of their 100-lap challenge, Blackbaud, the parent company of JustGiving, has donated £ 100,000 to NHS Charities Together through Captain Tom’s campaign. This is the largest donation JustGiving has made.
‘Captain Tom’s incredible campaign has broken many records – it is the highest total ever raised on JustGiving, the fastest growing campaign on the platform and has attracted donations and media coverage from around the world.
‘In addition to today’s £ 100,000 donation, JustGiving abolished the platform’s fees in March 2019 and switched to a voluntary contribution model. This change has saved £ 20 million for charities since last year. ‘
Donations to NHS Charities Together can be made on Captain Tom Moore’s JustGiving page here
