Coronavirus: World War II veteran Tom Moore raises $24m for NHS ‘heroes’

A World War II veteran has raised nearly $24m for the NHS by marching up and down his English garden with a walking frame.

English World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore in his garden in Marston Moretaine in Buckinghamshire. Picture: AFP

A World War II veteran has raised nearly £12m ($23.8m) for the National Health Service by marching up and down his garden with a walking frame.

Tom Moore, 99, had aimed to raise £1000 by walking 100 lengths of his English garden ­before his 100th birthday on April 30. However, more than half a million people had donated nearly $24m via Just Giving by Thursday (AEST).

After hitting £5m, Captain Tom, as he is known, tweeted he feared the website might crash under the unexpected weight of traffic generated by his campaign.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock opened Wednesday night’s press briefing about the pandemic by thanking the veteran. “I want to pay a special tribute to Captain Tom Moore, who at the age of 99 has raised over £7m so far for NHS charities. Captain Tom, you’re an inspiration to us all,” he said.

Mr Moore served in India and Burma in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He began raising funds for NHS Charities Together last week to thank staff who had treated him for cancer and a broken hip. He said health workers were “national heroes”.

He aims to complete 10 lengths of his 25m garden every day.

Mr Moore’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, said: “No words can express our gratitude to the public for getting behind Tom.”

The Times