War veteran Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises £16m for NHS as Boris Johnson looks at ways to honour 'heroic efforts'

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Imogen Braddick16 April 2020

War veteran Captain Tom Moore has now raised a staggering £16 million for the NHS to help fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The Second World War veteran, 99, set out to raise £1,000 before his 100th birthday on April 30 by walking 100 lengths of his 25-meter garden, wanting to give something back to the staff who treated him for a broken hip.

He successfully completed his 100th length on Thursday, at the Bedfordshire home where he lives with his family, but he plans to carry on as donations continue to pour in.

By Thursday evening, more than £16 million had been raised on Captain Moore’s JustGiving page – the largest total ever raised in a single campaign on the website.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he will look at ways to recognise the “heroic efforts” of the 99-year-old

Downing Street said that Mr Johnson will look at ways to recognise Captain Moore’s efforts, amid multiple calls for Captain Moore to receive a knighthood.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “From his military contributions to his support for NHS staff, Tom has demonstrated a lifetime of bravery and compassion.

“The Prime Minister will certainly be looking at ways to recognise Tom’s heroic efforts.”

Number 10 said Captain Moore had “captured the heart of the nation” and “embodied the spirit of the whole country in doing their bit for the battle against coronavirus”.

Captain Tom Moore was described as an "inspiration to us all" by Health Secretary Matt Hancock
PA

He was given a special mention in a press briefing on Wednesday by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who described him as an “inspiration”.

Meanwhile, director-general of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed his "extraordinary act of solidarity".

Captain Moore completed the final 25-metre lap of his 100-lap challenge on Thursday morning as a special guard of honour by the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment looked on.

Speaking at the finish line, he said: "I feel fine, hope you are all feeling fine too!"

He said plans for his birthday party at the end of the month have been put on hold, but that the national outpouring of love and support for him was “a party enough for me”.

Captain Moore has recevied an outpouring of love and support from across the globe 
Jeremy Selwyn

There is also an online campaign for children to make him birthday cards.

He told ITV that the public generosity had been “unbelievable”, adding: “Our country and all our nations, we’re all so generous in all sorts of ways.

“But it’s for a super purpose.

“Nurses, doctors and all the back-up workers, they deserve everything we can give them.”

Originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, Captain Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Army for the Second World War, rising to captain and serving in India and Burma.

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