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100 Yr Old Sir Capt Moore, The Man That Raised $45M For NHS Dies Of Covid 19 (pic)

Capt. Sir Tom Moore, the centenarian who raised $45 million for Britain’s National Health Service by slowing shuffling laps across his garden with the aid of a walker during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown last year, has died at the age of 100, his family announced Tuesday.

The medal-bedecked veteran, who was knighted last year by Queen Elizabeth II for his charitable campaign, had spent the past few weeks being treated for pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

Moore was not believed to have been vaccinated against the virus because of the medication he was receiving for the pneumonia, British media reported Monday.

“Captain Tom,” as he was known to all, stole the hearts of the English, who saw in him a can-do, big-hearted living link to yesteryear, the human embodiment of the “keep calm and carry on” spirit that got the Brits through the Bltiz in the early days of World War II.

The Queen was one of the first to publicly mourn his death.

“Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year. Her thoughts and those of the Royal Family are with them,” the royal family’s official Twitter account tweeted.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan called Moore “a true hero,” as Britain’s NHS thanked the veteran for his service.

Moore’s walking story — and unexpected rise to stardom — began in April last year when he sought to raise 1,000 pounds (nearly $1,372) for the NHS by walking his 82-foot long garden back and forth 100 times, using his walker for support.

Just 24 hours after Moore started walking, he had raised the equivalent of $8,750. As funds poured in, Moore’s fundraising page crashed repeatedly.

He completed his final lap two weeks ahead of schedule — an event that was live-streamed by the BBC as the figure reached $15 million. Afterward, donations continued to climb.

Moore was treated on his 100th birthday with a Royal Air Force flyby above his home in Bedfordshire, 50 miles north of London, as street art of his face began appearing around the country.

Children and fans sent him more than 150,000 birthday cards and a tribute flashed on the big screen in Piccadilly Circus.

Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne, branded Moore a “one-man fundraising machine.”

Credit: Washington Post

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