Veteran Army raised 4 million pounds to help health workers fight COVID-19

Captain Tom Moore was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire. He began his training as a civil engineer before enlisting in the British army for the second World War. -Photo Reuters

VETERAN army Captain Tom Moore has managed to collect £4 million in an effort to help support medical assistants who are treating COVID-19 patients at the National Health Service (NHS).

The 99 year old started his fundraising campaign earlier this month with an aim to collect just £1,000 by walking in laps of his garden in Bedfordshire.

In just 24 hours, he succeeded his target and then aimed to up the amount to £125,000 which was also reached in a short amount of time after receiving over 170,000 donors online.

In a report by BBC, Moore conveyed that he is thankful for the services of the medical assistants in the NHS for helping him through his cancer recovery process and hip problems hence the initiative to kickstart this fundraising campaign.

Moore will be turning 100 by the coming April 30 and wishes to complete a total of 100 laps of the 25-metre loop in his garden in Marston Moretaine to commemorate the day.

All the proceeds from his noble efforts will be used for well-being packs for the NHS workers, rest and recuperation rooms, electronic devices to enable hospital patients to keep in contact with loved ones, and working with community groups to support patients once they have been discharged from hospitals.

"When you think of who it is all for, all those brave and super doctors and nurses we have got, I think they deserve every penny, and I hope we get some more for them too." Moore said in an interview. 

Captain Tom Moore was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire. He began his training as a civil engineer before enlisting in the British army for the second World War.

He then served as captain in India and Burma.

"I think I absolutely join the rest of the country in being truly inspired and profoundly humbled by Captain Tom and what he has achieved,

Thank you for being an inspiration and a role model," said Chief executive of the NHS Charities Together, Ellie Orton.