A British World War II veteran has raised more than $20 million for the country’s National Health Service through a charity walk he started to commemorate his 100th birthday.
Last week, Tom Moore decided he would raise money to help the efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus by walking the length of his 82-foot garden back and forth 100 times, using his walker for support. Moore, 99, will turn 100 at the end of April.
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His initial goal was £1,000, which is about $1,250, but he ultimately skyrocketed past that marker to raise approximately $23 million.
His daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, told CNN her father had been exercising daily following a recent partial hip replacement and that she had come up with the idea of raising funds.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed by this sum of money.”
GOOD NEWS: 99-year-old British World War II veteran raises millions for NHS by walking laps in garden. https://t.co/uLfNlw4YMj pic.twitter.com/m1uxwdw0mV
— The Hill (@thehill) April 18, 2020
Moore trained as a civil engineer before he enlisted in the British Army during World War II. He served in the United Kingdom, as well as overseas in India and Indonesia.
On Thursday, a spokesman for No. 10 Downing Street said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent time in the intensive care unit while battling the coronavirus himself, would “certainly be looking at ways to recognize Tom for his heroic efforts,” according to the Washington Post.
