A 99-year-old war veteran who has raised more than £14m for the NHS by walking around his garden has now completed his challenge.

Captain Tom Moore, who turns 100 at the end of the month, smashed his original target to raise £1,000 for the NHS fighting COVID-19, by walking 100 lengths of his Bedfordshire garden.

After completing the challenge - with a guard of honour from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment - he told Sky News that the response he has received has been "absolutely amazing", as he praised the NHS.

He said: "They're doing such a magnificent job and every day, they're putting themselves in danger, and they're doing it cheerfully and they're continuing to do that, and good for them."

He’s done it! Well done Tom! 👏 I’ll be chatting to him live a bit later on @skynews 😊 pic.twitter.com/PzzIQ1raCx — Rebecca Williams 📺 (@RebeccaTVnews) April 16, 2020

Image: Captain Tom Moore has so far raised £14m for the NHS

Image: Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, surprised the Captain as he completed his challenge. Pic: Ministry of Defence

After his final lap, Cpt Moore's achievement was trending on Twitter with many well-wishers offering their congratulations, describing him as "truly amazing and inspiring", a "legend", and "an extraordinary fundraiser".


The NHS posted "we salute you", while the Ministry of Defence called Cpt Moore "one of our own" as it thanked him for his efforts.

"We class Captain Tom as one of our own, so it’s a fantastic honour to be here today to witness such an inspirational act from a phenomenal individual. Thank you Tom!” - @RSM_1YORKS



Congratulations to @captaintommoore from everyone at the MOD and the Armed Forces! pic.twitter.com/mSqZuMNjLH — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 16, 2020

He has received multiple messages of thanks from NHS workers, sports personalities and politicians, and there are even calls for him to be knighted.

Cpt Moore told Sky News: "That makes me laugh, because I never ever anticipated such a thing - although I'm buzzing at the sound of Sir Thomas Moore, sounds quite good."

99-year-old war vet raises millions for NHS

Dressed in a blazer and tie and displaying his war medals, he vowed to continue while the donations keep coming in.

Image: Captain Tom Moore completed the 100th length of his garden at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire

Image: Pic: © UK Crown copyright 2020

Raised in Yorkshire, Mr Moore served in India, Burma and Sumatra during the Second World War, and said he had been inspired by the care he received from the NHS when he broke his hip and when he was treated for cancer.

He added: "With this invisible enemy that we've got, we've all got to look forward to the future when we've beaten this enemy.

"Whatever people think, we shall get better. Things will be better tomorrow."

Image: Captain Tom Moore served in the Second World War. Pic: Justgiving

Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to Mr Moore at the government's daily Downing Street news conference on Wednesday, calling him "an inspiration to us all".

After hearing the remarks, Mr Moore said: "I was absolutely amazed that somebody like him would talk to me.

"I mean he is such an important person in our government and for him to make a reference to me is great."

Cpt Moore's daughter Hannah said her father had become a "global beacon of hope" in his fundraising efforts.

Speaking earlier after he completed his challenge, she said they initially thought "if we could amazingly raise £1,000, we'd be delighted".

She added: "Then we hit £1,000 and we thought, well this is extraordinary, could £5,000 by the end of the month be possible?

"And then, who knew, and who could ever have said that - is it nine or 10 days later? - we're talking about £12m.

Image: Cpt Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia

"I don't think anyone could write this story. We're brimming with pride, but honestly, in humility also."

Cpt Moore's grandson Benji has said: "It's incredible. The support we've had across the country, and now America and France, it's been amazing.

"I've been speechless all week and it's got to a point where I genuinely have no words.

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"I'm so proud of him - I've lived with him practically my whole life, I wouldn't know anything without him, and it's just been incredible - I can't say anything else."

The number of donations to Cpt Moore's JustGiving page has risen at breakneck speed over recent days.

During one of his interviews with Sky News, more than £50,000 was donated alone.