Thousands of cards as UK helps Captain Tom Moore celebrate his 100th birthday
● Second World War veteran who has raised more than £31m for the NHS ‘enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure’
Captain Tom Moore said he has “enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure” as he celebrated his 100th birthday, having raised more than £31 million for the NHS.
The Second World War veteran’s Justgiving page closed at midnight on Thursday, having achieved the total in little over three weeks, but he encouraged people to continue to donate to NHS Charities Together.
Captain Tom set out to walk 100 laps of his garden in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday and he completed the laps ahead of time.
His initial fundraising target was £1,000.
To mark his century he was made an honorary colonel and there were two military flypasts over his village - the first of a Spitfire and a Hurricane, and the second of a Wildcat and an Apache helicopter.
He has been sent more than 140,000 birthday cards, including a signed card from the Queen which said: “I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion.”
And he and was sent a message by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Johnson said: “Captain Tom, I know I speak for the whole country when I say ‘We wish you a very happy 100th birthday’.
“Your heroic efforts have lifted the spirits of the entire nation.”
Captain Tom, who is a cricket fan, has also been made an honorary member of the England
cricket team. He began his challenge to thank NHS staff who helped him after he was treated for a broken hip, and he thanked the public for their “very overwhelming” generosity.
“Reaching 100 is quite something,” he said.
“Reaching 100 with such interest in me and huge generosity from the public is very overwhelming.
“People keep saying what I have done is remarkable, however it’s actually what you have done for me which is remarkable.
“I felt a little frustrated and disappointed after I broke my hip and it knocked my confidence.
“However, the past three weeks have put a spring back in my step.
“I have renewed purpose and have thoroughly enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure, but I can’t keep walking forever.
“My legs may be tired, but my mind is racing and I’m hoping to be back very soon with other ways in which I can help people, help others.
“Please always remember ‘Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day’.”
By Thursday afternoon, hours before his donations page was due to close, he had raised £31.7m with more than 1.4 million supporters making donations.
Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “Captain Tom’s incredible dedication to our appeal has captured the hearts and minds of the UK, and rightly so - what he has achieved will make a lasting difference.
“We cannot thank him enough for all that he’s achieved and we wish him a very happy birthday, and look forward to continuing to ensure that what he’s done is used to improve the lives of the NHS staff and volunteers that are giving so much to their communities at the moment.”
Captain Tom has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London, and the postbox outside his village Post Office has been painted NHS blue in honour of his efforts.
His proud daughter said he was now in need of a well earned rest.
Hannah Ingram-moore said that for the family the last few weeks will be “embedded in our hearts forever”.
She said the 100-year-old has “touched the hearts of many people around the world” and brought hope at a difficult time.
Ms Ingram-moore said: “Who could have written it? I don’t think anyone, if you’d tried to make it up, you just couldn’t have done it.”
She described the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane as “incredibly emotional”, adding: “I don’t know how I wasn’t a sobbing mess.
“It was so moving in a way that you wouldn’t expect it to be, but I think he summed it up when he said he was the only person here who would have seen those planes flying in desperation and anger.”
She said the family has told Capt Tom to have a rest.
“I think we know that he has touched the hearts of many people around the world,” she said. “He’s definitely engaged us all and given us hope and unity. No more walking for now. He has insisted that he will be walking again but we’ve said, ‘please, just take a little bit of rest’.”
“I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion”
THE QUEEN