'Absolute legend' British veteran raises $25 million by walking for the health service

[rooster59]

'Absolute legend' British veteran raises $25 million by walking for the health service

By Paul Sandle

 

Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Marston Moretaine, Britain, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

 

LONDON (Reuters) - A 99-year-old British war veteran who has raised more than 20 million pounds ($25 million) for the health service by walking laps of his garden was praised by Queen Elizabeth's grandson as an "absolute legend".

 

Tom Moore, retired army captain who served in India, Burma and Sumatra during World War Two, became a symbol of British endurance in the face of adversity after completing 100 laps of his garden in a fundraising effort for the health service.

 

Moore, who has used a walking frame with wheels since breaking his hip, had aimed to raise 1,000 pounds by completing his challenge before his 100th birthday on April 30.

 

But his endeavour - and enduring optimism - struck a chord with people across the United Kingdom and the wider world, bringing a ray of hope amid the doom of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 147,000 people worldwide.

 

Prince William, the queen's grandson, said Moore was an "absolute legend".

 

"What I love also is he's a 99-year war vet, he's been around a long time, knows everything and it's wonderful that everyone has been inspired by his story and his determination," William said in an interview broadcast on Friday.

 

Moore said that the current doom would clear and that one day "the sun will shine on you again and the clouds will go away".

 

Such is his renown, that some have called for Moore to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth - a ritual recognition that dates back thousands of years through England's medieval past.

 

"It makes me laugh," Moore said on Thursday when asked about being recognised formally, quipping a reference to the Tudor statesman Sir Thomas More.

 

"Sir Thomas Moore sounds quite good," he chuckled.

 

British honours, such as knighthoods, are awarded by the queen, usually on the recommendation of a committee comprising government officials and citizens.

 

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said "everybody is supportive of the idea" of Moore being recognised.

 

"I wouldn't want to preempt Her Majesty's honours list but it is quite clear that this gentleman has just been almost the salvation of the nation in these difficult times," he said.

 

"I think everybody is supportive of the idea of him being recognised."

 

His exploits have also inspired pieces of art.

 

In the Yorkshire town of Pontefract, 120 miles (190 km) north of Moore's home in the south of England, artist Rachel List painted a mural of the veteran on Friday.

 

Moore said the walk was inspired by the care he received from Britain's state-run National Health Service when he broke his hip and when he was treated for cancer.

 

Moore said on Thursday his supporters had donated an "absolutely fantastic sum of money".

 

"It's unbelievable that people would be so kind to give that sort of money to the National Health Service," he said.

 

($1 = 0.8028 pounds)

 

(Reporting by Paul Sandle and Kate Holton; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-18

 

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[Justgrazing]

Don't make them like this chap anymore .. Salt of the Earth he is .. 

A recognition of this achievement will come in the next honours list for sure .. 

Captain Moore we salute you .. 

[OneeyedJohn]

Unbelievable.

I wonder what Ian Botham thinks of him.

[Odysseus123]

If anyone wants to know what the fighting in Burma was like may I recommend;

Fergal Keane

'Road of Bones'

Edited April 18, 2020 by Odysseus123

[animalmagic]

When you consider some of the horrors of war that this gentleman has seen and lived through you can only admire his spirit and good nature.  I have been following his current achievements for the last ten days or so and can only wish the world had leaders like him.

[Pilotman]

This is not going be to be a popular view point.  Good on the Captain, well played and he deseves the praise, maybe even a medal, but £20 million, really??  People get caught up in the moment and swept along on a sea of emotional sentimentality that is a wee bit nausiating to witness, when it goes on too long and when normally, they couldn't give a toss.  Remember the stupid hysteria over Princess Di when she died?  This has now gone too far. for too long.   I see another worthy old biddy is climbing stairs and another 90 year old walking around his garden. Give to charity by all means, great idea, but don't wait for some emotional blackmail to tug at your heart strings. I will duck the stones that will no doubt come my way.  

Edited April 18, 2020 by Pilotman

[Chivas]

Magnificent achievement simple as. Guy should be knighted soon as.

 

Its just insanity that the NHS relies on charity donations rather than funded by my inept government

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, Chivas said:

Magnificent achievement simple as. Guy should be knighted soon as.

 

Its just insanity that the NHS relies on charity donations rather than funded by my inept government

it doesn't rely on such donations at all. It actually sucks up billions of Pounds into a pitifully inefficient organisation that just treats to the lowest common denominator due to lack of resorces, while its many useless managers are paid 6 figure salaries for overseeing that inefficiency.  let's not get too teary eyed about the organisation, albiet they are doing their best right now. 

[OneeyedJohn]

Why was the hysteria 'stupid' ?

People loved her and were upset at her death.

[Pilotman]

8 minutes ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Why was the hysteria 'stupid' ?

People loved her and were upset at her death.

because that is what it was, mob hysteria. 

[The Word]

7 minutes ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Why was the hysteria 'stupid' ?

People loved her and were upset at her death.

How can anyone "love" someone they didn't know and would never have known?

[Salerno]

13 minutes ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Why was the hysteria 'stupid' ?

People loved her and were upset at her death.

No idea why 

[OneeyedJohn]

I think u mean mass hysteria.

[Chivas]

25 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

it doesn't rely on such donations at all. It actually sucks up billions of Pounds into a pitifully inefficient organisation that just treats to the lowest common denominator due to lack of resorces, while its many useless managers are paid 6 figure salaries for overseeing that inefficiency.  let's not get too teary eyed about the organisation, albiet they are doing their best right now. 

Now you're blaming others lol. It will "happily" take donations all day long because Johnson and Cummings lap it up and positively encourage it. More money for the elite few

[OneeyedJohn]

15 minutes ago, The Word said:

How can anyone "love" someone they didn't know and would never have known?

Oh dear, you appear to have a very basic understanding of the English language.

Try reading some books, it will help.

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, Chivas said:

Now you're blaming others lol. It will "happily" take donations all day long because Johnson and Cummings lap it up and positively encourage it. More money for the elite few

£20 million won't even pay for the upgrade of the CEO's office at 4 hospitals, which is probably where it will end up.  Of course the suckers that paid out will never know what happened to it.   

[OneeyedJohn]

Wouldn't it be nice if he could just give every one of 40,000 nurses a gift of £500

[sungod]

55 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

This is not going be to be a popular view point. 

You're right, its not.

 

Its not just about the money, it's given a huge well needed lift to the medical staff in the NHS, not too mention countless in the UK and around the world who like a little cheery news in a currently messed up world.

[faraday]

Oh dear, the negative comments have begun: Again.

[norfolkandchance]

[shy coconut]

54 minutes ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Why was the hysteria 'stupid' ?

People loved her and were upset at her death.

Go on, call her the people's princess!

 

 

[Odysseus123]

Just now, Bluespunk said:

Amazing how some posters can take a thread on someone doing a bit of good to thank those who helped him, and start slanging matches that degenerate into sniping, snide comments and bitterness towards each other. 

Indeed.

 

Has anyone seen the movie/documentary 'First Light'?

The subject is Geoffrey Wellum the youngest British pilot during the BOB.

He is now deceased but those two honourable gentlemen are like peas from the same pod..

 

[Thailand]

6 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Amazing how some can take a thread on someone doing a bit of good to thank those who helped him, and start slanging matches that degenerate into sniping, snide comments and bitterness towards each other. 

As pointed out on many occasion TV, frequented by the good the bad and the ugly.

[Rimmer]

A couple of baiting posts removed

[evadgib]

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

£20 million won't even pay for the upgrade of the CEO's office at 4 hospitals, which is probably where it will end up.  Of course the suckers that paid out will never know what happened to it.   

Piers Morgan's virtue signalling has been quite nauseating throughout this virus saga but to be fair it was him who highlighted Capt Tom's efforts and it snowballed from there.

 

When the National lottery started in 1994 one of it's selling points was a claim that a new hospital will be built in every UK county from the proceeds. I have no idea whether any were ever actually built. Info was less than forthcoming last time I attempted to find out.

Edited April 18, 2020 by evadgib

[Justgrazing]

This chap is a near a 100 yrs old and set out to originally raise a £1000 for his local health care trust to say thank you for recent treatment he'd had .. No one least of all him or his family realised it would take off in the way that it has particularly after the mainstream media picked it up and ran with it .. 

Cynicism has been expressed about the amount raised and where it will go within the NHS and yes even though it is 20 mill it is a drop against what the NHS consumes to operate .. but Captain Moore's achievement is about more than that .. It is out of a sense of duty that has already seen him serve in WW2 and that he still maintains if you've seen any of the interviews with him that has provided a much needed pick me up to Britain and further when just about everything else in the news is to do with this damned virus .. There is a time and place for cynicism but this article is not one of them .. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Justgrazing
Sp

[Thongkorn]

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

it doesn't rely on such donations at all. It actually sucks up billions of Pounds into a pitifully inefficient organisation that just treats to the lowest common denominator due to lack of resorces, while its many useless managers are paid 6 figure salaries for overseeing that inefficiency.  let's not get too teary eyed about the organisation, albiet they are doing their best right now. 

And dont forget it treats the Self inflicted Injury's . smoking ,obesity ,Alcoholism, Sunday sports injury's Car accidents, Health tourists, and the rests.

[Davo369]

A true gentleman 

[VocalNeal]

19 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

This chap is a near a 100 yrs old and set out to originally raise a £1000 for his local health care trust to say thank you for recent treatment he'd had .. No one least of all him or his family realised it would take off in the way that it has particularly after the mainstream media picked it up and ran with it .. 

Cynicism has been expressed about the amount raised and where it will go within the NHS and yes even though it is 20 mill it is a drop against what the NHS consumes to operate .. but Captain Moore's achievement is about more than that .. It is out of a sense of duty that has already seen him serve in WW2 and that he still maintains if you've seen any of the interviews with him that has provided a much needed pick me up to Britain and further when just about everything else in the news is to do with this damned virus .. There is a time and place for cynicism but this article is not one of them .. 

..and just maybe people thought to contribute to/for him and not for his his local health care trust. 

Now all the do gooder netizens have got hold of it, it has become a circus.

 

Good luck to the old chap, if I make it to 99, I'll do the same . If i remember!

[evadgib]

16 minutes ago, Davo369 said:

A true gentleman 

Agreed, but the opening pic looked a bit like a spoof featuring 'unlucky alf' lol ????