Covid-19: UK war veteran 'Captain Tom', 99, raises over R587m for health carers

Retired British Army Captain Moore walks to raise money for health workers. Picture: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Retired British Army Captain Moore walks to raise money for health workers. Picture: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Published Apr 19, 2020

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LONDON - Captain Tom Moore, a

99-year-old British war veteran, has now raised more than 25

million pounds (R587 473 498) for the health service by walking

100 laps of his garden.

The World War Two veteran, who has used a walking frame with

wheels since breaking his hip, set himself the target of walking

the 25 metres around his garden 100 times before his 100th

birthday on April 30.

He completed his task on Thursday.

His original target was to raise 1,000 pounds, but that

modest aim was blown away as media attention from around the

globe zoomed in on his garden in Bedfordshire, central England.

Moore will be the guest of honour when a new "Nightingale"

field hospital opens in Harrogate in northern England next week,

which is being set up to help deal with the coronavirus

outbreak.

"I am still amazed by the amount of kindness and generosity

from the UK public who continue to give despite it being an

uncertain time for many," Moore said in a statement on Saturday. 

(1 pound = R23.50)

Reuters