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Coronavirus: Captain Tom Moore finishes NHS fundraiser as it tops £12m Coronavirus: Capt Tom Moore finishes NHS fundraiser as it tops £12m
(about 1 hour later)
A 99-year-old war veteran has walked 100 laps of his garden to raise more than £12m for the NHS.A 99-year-old war veteran has walked 100 laps of his garden to raise more than £12m for the NHS.
Tom Moore originally wanted to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by completing laps of his garden before his 100th birthday. Capt Tom Moore originally wanted to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by completing laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.
But he smashed his target after more than 620,000 people made donations to his fundraising page. But he smashed his target after more than 640,000 people made donations to his fundraising page.
As he finished the challenge, he said: "I feel fine, I hope you're all feeling fine too."As he finished the challenge, he said: "I feel fine, I hope you're all feeling fine too."
He told the BBC earlier that the total amount raised so far was "an absolutely fantastic sum of money".He told the BBC earlier that the total amount raised so far was "an absolutely fantastic sum of money".
"We could never imagine that sort of money and it's unbelievable that people could be so kind to give that sort of money to the NHS," he said. "I never dreamt I would be involved in such an occasion as this," he said at the end of his final lap.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told BBC Breakfast Mr Moore was "an inspiration to us all". By 09:00 BST, Capt Moore's Just Giving page was showing donations of more than £12.3m and had temporarily crashed.
"This is an awful crisis but there are some little shafts of light," he said. His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said: "We are absolutely floored by what has been achieved but we're so happy, so humbled and so proud.
"He's a beacon of hope in dark times and I think we all need something like this to believe in and it's for such an amazing cause."
'Extraordinary'
Mr Moore began raising funds to thank the "magnificent" NHS staff who helped him with treatment for cancer and a broken hip.Mr Moore began raising funds to thank the "magnificent" NHS staff who helped him with treatment for cancer and a broken hip.
With the aid of a walking frame, he aimed to complete 100 laps of the 25-metre (82ft) loop in his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, in 10-lap chunks, before his 100th birthday. With the aid of a walking frame, he completed 100 laps of the 25-metre (82ft) loop in his garden in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, in 10-lap chunks well before his birthday on 30 April.
"Every penny that we get, they [the NHS] deserve every one of it," he said, as the total exceeded the £5m mark on Wednesday. Tributes and messages of congratulations have poured in from politicians, celebrities and NHS workers.
NHS Charities Together, which support health service charities and will benefit from the funds, said it was "truly inspired and humbled". Chancellor Rishi Sunak, said what he had done was "extraordinary" and "showed that the British spirit was as strong as it's ever been", while Brig Andrew Jackson, colonel of the Yorkshire Regiment, described Capt Moore as "an absolute legend" who came from "an exceptional generation that are still an inspiration for our Yorkshire soldiers today".
More than 600,000 people from around the world have donated money to his fundraising page since it was set up last week. Celebratory judge Judy Sheindin described the 99-year-old as "remarkable" while former F1 champion Damon Hill congratulated him on the "brilliant idea and for pulling it off".
Mr Moore, who is originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Army for World War Two, rising to captain and serving in India and Myanmar, also known as Burma. Nurses on Ward 4 at the Royal University Hospital said: "Thank you so much for all your efforts and how much money you've raised for the NHS."
When the fund hit £5m, Mr Moore's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore told the BBC the amount raised was "beyond our wildest expectations". Capt Moore also received a special message from actor Michael Ball, who described the challenge as "an extraordinary achievement" and sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" to him live on BBC Breakfast.
By about 07:10 BST, the total raised had risen to more than £12,000,000. More than 600,000 people from around the world have donated money to the fundraising page since it was set up last week.
Capt Moore, who is originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire, trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Army for World War Two, rising to captain and serving in India and Myanmar, also known as Burma.
Calls for him to receive a knighthood have gathered momentum and a petition has been signed by almost 2,000 people so far. 
NHS Charities Together, which support health service charities and will benefit from the funds, said it was "truly inspired and humbled" by his efforts.
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