Captain Tom Moore has officially raised more than £21m in donations for the NHS Charities Together through his ‘100th birthday walk’.
The 99-year-old Second World War veteran, who completed his pledged 100 lengths of his garden on Thursday, originally only aimed to raise £1,000 to support healthcare workers.
But after contributions from nearly 1 million people around the world the target was reviewed to £500,000 – the final amount raised is now more than 42 times that.
After completing the challenge on Thursday, Capt Moore said to everyone struggling during the coronavirus pandemic that “at the end of the day we shall all be ok. The sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away”.
A spokesperson for Downing Street has already said Boris Johnson is looking at ways to “recognise [Moore’s] heroic effort” after 500,000 people signed a petition to give Capt Moore a knighthood in less than 24 hours.
The Number 10 spokesperson said: “From his military contributions to his support for NHS staff, Tom has demonstrated a lifetime of bravery and compassion.”
Adding that he has “captured the heart of the nation” and “embodied the spirit of the whole country in doing their bit for the battle against coronavirus”.
The Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall have also written private letters to Capt Moore showing their support.
Kensington Palace confirmed Prince William and Kate Middleton had made an “undisclosed” donation to the fundraising efforts.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has also called the veteran, who served in India and Burma, an “inspiration to us all”.
Capt Moore was brought up in Keighley, Yorkshire, and went to Keighley Grammar School. He completed an apprenticeship as a civil engineer before joining the army in 1940.
