Captain Tom Moore fundraiser for NHS hits £30m on his 100th birthday

Captain Tom Moore was promoted to Honorary Colonel on his 100th birthday

Captain Tom Moore has raised more than £30m in donations for NHS Charities Together by taking part in a “100th birthday walk”.

Earlier this month, Captain Moore launched a fundraiser for the NHS that involved walking 100 laps of his garden to mark his milestone birthday.

The veteran, who served in India and Burma during the Second World War, initially set a target of raising £1,000 on his JustGiving page, which would be donated to help support NHS workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Just a few weeks on, the centenarian has garnered donations from more than one million people, received messages of support from well-known figures including members of the royal family and raised more than £30m in total, a target that he hit on his 100th birthday on Thursday 30 April.

The retired army officer was promoted to the rank of Honorary Colonel on his birthday for the military’s college for young soldiers, an appointment that was approved by the Queen.

Despite completing the 100th lap of his garden on Thursday 16 April, Captain Moore has stated he will continue his walk in support of “our NHS heroes”.

“On Thursday 16th April, Captain Tom Moore completed his final 10 laps out of his 100. This was captured on platforms including the BBC and ITV, and can be seen across various worldwide news outlets,” it says on the fundraising page.

“Tom is going to continue to walk, raise money for our NHS heroes, and spread some cheer around the world whilst doing so.”

After completing his 100th lap, the nonagenarian offered words of hope amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“At the end of the day we shall all be ok,” he said. “The sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away.”

Captain Moore, who was born and raised in Keighley, Yorkshire, is having an RAF flypast performed in his honour on his birthday.

On Tuesday Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, which had originally planned a Spitfire salute over Captain Moore’s home to mark the veteran’s milestone birthday, revealed that its plans had been cancelled by the Department for Transport over fears the event could attract too many spectators.

A special Royal Mail postmark has also been created in tribute to the veteran on the occasion of his birthday.

Captain Moore has received tens of thousands of birthday cards from supporters, which has made him feel “absolutely blown away and humbled”, his daughter said.