Once a soldier, always a soldier. And, former British Army veteran Tom Moore also holds another adage true- Age is just a number. He took an oath to defend the country against all enemies, foreign and domestic in 1940. Almost eight decades later and defending allied forces in India and Burma during World War II, the captain is back on the battlefield just before his 100th birthday.
He has picked a fight against novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which has killed over two million people across the globe, including 12,868 Britons. Setting himself up to complete 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden, he hoped to raise half a million pounds for the National Health Service fundraising.
His image - an older man moving with a walker - moved millions across the UK. Little wonder Captain Tom, as he is affectionately being called, has sailed past his original target, raising more than £20 million. All he wanted was to thank the "magnificent" staff who recently treated him for a broken hip and cancer. His grit and commitment have inspired thousands to come forward and donate for the frontline health workers against the treatment of the terrible virus.
The final four of the 25-metre laps at his Bedfordshire home was covered on Thursday morning, with a special guard of honour by the 1st battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. Between walks, he remained in touch with the world through social media. 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."
A civil engineering degree holder, 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. Speaking at the finish line, he said he felt “fine” and that he was “surrounded by the right sort of people”. Of the coronavirus pandemic, he told BBC Breakfast: “We will get through it in the end, but it might take time, but at the end of the day we shall all be okay again… the sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away.”
Plans for his birthday party have been affected, but the captain joked everyone would have to keep six metres away from him “because I must be something horrid”. He added that the national outpouring of love and support for him was “a party enough for me”.
After smashing his first modest target of £1,000, Captain Moore has now raised more than £12.3 million, saying medical staff “deserve everything we can give them”. His daughter Hannah said he had become a “beacon of hope” during challenging times.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, described him as an “inspiration.” The Ministry of Defence tweeted its congratulations as he finished his walk. After being told he had become the largest single fundraiser for the JustGiving donation site, the captain said he would continue with his fundraising.
“We’ve fought so many battles and we’ve always won, and we’re going to win again,” he said. “Please remember tomorrow is a good day and we will get through it in the end… I shall continue walking.”
There have been multiple calls for Captain Moore to receive a knighthood for his charitable actions, and there is an online campaign for children to make him birthday cards. His daughter said the local postmaster had already been “inundated” with messages ahead of his birthday.
