Cards for the captain as he completes his brave mission
CHILDREN across South Wales have been making birthday cards for NHS fundraiser and Second World War veteran, Captain Tom Moore.
Cpt Moore, 99, has raised more than £14m for the NHS after completing 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire yesterday.
With his 100th birthday approaching on April 30, children across the country felt inspired to recognise Cpt Moore’s efforts by making him birthday cards.
Isla Mullane, five, from Cardiff is one of those who felt compelled to make a card.
“She has been watching the press coverage of Tom and his amazing efforts,” her mother Louise told the PA news agency.
“This is close to our hearts as I currently work for the NHS and as a family have always experienced only the best care when needed.
“Isla is very caring and when the opportunity arose to make a card, she made it her priority of the day to do so.”
Another young fan decided to create a card after her parents explained why Cpt Moore was undertaking his challenge.
“Since becoming aware of Captain Tom Moore in the last couple of days, Isla-Rose (aged five) asked who he is, why he is a captain and why he is doing what he is doing,” Naina Grindlay, IslaRose’s mother, said.
“We have explained to Isla about Captain Tom Moore being in the armed forces and how even at almost 100 years old he wants to support the NHS and his country. We explained about the pressure the NHS is under and explained that the money Captain Tom raises will help towards this.
“Isla wanted to then create a birthday card to send birthday wishes and thanking him for his support.”
By yesterday afternoon, more than 700,000 supporters had donated more than £14m on Cpt Moore’s JustGiving page – the largest total ever raised in a single campaign on the website.
Cpt Moore completed the final 25-metre lap of his 100-lap challenge as a special guard of honour by the 1st battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment looked on.
Speaking at the finish line, he said he felt “fine” and that he was “surrounded by the right sort of people”.