From USA Today:
“99-year-old army vet raises $8M
for Britain's NHS by doing laps around his garden”
A British army veteran raised
more than £7 million ($8.7 million) for his country's National Health Service
"heroes" without ever leaving home. Tom Moore, 99, pledged to walk
100 laps around his back garden before his 100th birthday on April 30, hoping
to raise about £1,000 ($1,250) for NHS Charities Together, which helps
charities raise money for United Kingdom hospitals and supports NHS staff and
volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients. He aimed to walk 10 laps each day with
the help of a walking frame. Within about 24 hours he reached his initial goal,
according to a post on his fundraising page April 10. A few days later, Moore
had raised more than £1 million ($1.25 million). Moore announced the latest
donation milestone on his Twitter account and thanked the public for
contributing. "The Great British public, your generosity is just
incredible!" he wrote. Moore was born in Keighley, Yorkshire, where he
trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army at the beginning of
World War II. He later served in India and Indonesia. His daughter, Hannah,
told the Guardian she wanted to make Moore’s upcoming centennial birthday
special after they had to cancel his party, and Moore is determined to walk
another 100 laps if it means raising more money. He told the BBC that he began
raising the funds to thank the NHS staff who helped him with treatment for
cancer and a broken hip. "When you think of who it is all for – all those
brave and super doctors and nurses we have got," he told the outlet.
"I think they deserve every penny, and I hope we get some more for them
too." Ellie Orton, the chief executive of NHS Charities Together, thanked
Moore for being "an inspiration and a role model" in a statement to
media outlets. "I think I join the rest of the country in being truly
inspired and profoundly humbled by Capt. Tom and what he’s achieved,"
Orton said.
^ This is such a cool idea and a
great way to raise money and show support. ^
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