Captain Tom Moore set out with the aim to complete 100 laps of his back garden.
The 99-year-old WWII veteran vowed to complete the task before his 100th birthday at the end of April. He also wanted to raise money for a good cause and, since the NHS is under huge strain right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed like the perfect pairing. [Featured Image: Tom Moore, Twitter]
Little did he know that his goal would go a long way, raising over £5 million towards our National Health Service. “Tom Walks For The NHS” has done everyone proud.
I’m walking….#walkwithtom #TomorrowWillBeAGoodDay pic.twitter.com/lqKOYg5c9y
— Captain Sir Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) April 13, 2020
That’s not to say Tom Moore didn’t begin with ambition, however. A £1000 target was set, which was surpassed in 24 hours. After this, the fundraiser, Maytrix, upped the target to 100k, then 250k, and then 500k. After this, the number boomed into superstardom. In the last 24 hours, the number has jumped by over £3.5 million.
Currently, Tom’s fundraiser sits on a whopping £5 million, exceeding the 500k target by 1000% and counting! You can donate to his Just Giving page right here.
In an interview with the BBC, Tom praised the NHS, saying they gave him “patience and kindness” when he underwent hip surgery.
Tom Moore was born in Keighley and was drafted to fight in India during WWII. His Just Giving page remains active and is still gathering a host of signatures every day.
You can also follow Tom’s progress on YouTube. Many celebrities, including Ian Poulter and Kate Robbins, were on hand to wish Tom a happy birthday. He has been walking 10 laps each day as part of his fundraiser. Not bad for a nearly-centurion!