Army Veteran Raises Millions For NHS With Fundraising Walk

A 99-year-old British Army veteran who hoped to generate half a million pounds for the NHS with a fundraising walk has sailed past his original target, raising more than £7 million.

Tom Moore, a former Army captain who served in India and Burma during the Second World War, has captured the nation's attention in his quest to complete 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden by Thursday, walking with the aid of a frame.

He is raising money for NHS Charities Together, to thank the "magnificent" staff who recently treated him for a broken hip and cancer. 

Mr Moore is aiming to complete a 25-metre loop ten times per day, hoping to reach a century of laps before his 100th birthday at the end of the month.

The man known nationwide as 'Captain Tom' has vowed to continue walking, even once he has completed his mission.

As frontline NHS staff continue to combat the outbreak of coronavirus, Mr Moore wrote on Twitter: "I may be walking in my garden to raise money, but this is the British public’s contribution.

"You are all wonderful - and make Great Britain - GREAT.

"Thanks to everyone - we stand united even during the most testing of times."

Upon waking up on Wednesday morning to a donation total of more than £4 million raised, he wrote:

"Good morning everyone - Another lovely day and we have just looked at the amazing total this morning."

Mr Moore thanked everyone for the support for the "incredible" NHS, before focusing in on his task once more:

"I have another 10 laps to do today."

After completing an apprenticeship as a Civil Engineer, the Yorkshire-born veteran was enlisted in 8th Duke of Wellington's Regiment (145th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps)at the beginning of the Second World War and was selected for officer training in 1940.

He was later posted to 9th Duke of Wellington's Regiment in India, and fought on the Arakan, Burma.

As global economies continue to suffer amid the COVID-19 crisis, tens of thousands of separate donations have been made to the cause. 

NHS Charities Together wrote on Twitter that they were in "utter awe" of his achievement.

Cover image: (Picture: @captaintommoore/Twitter).