Tom Moore
Captain Tom Moore: The 100-year-old fundraiser who walked for the NHS
Captain Sir Thomas Moore (30 April 1920 – 2 February 2021), more popularly known as Captain Tom, was a British Army officer and fundraiser. He made international headlines in April 2020 when he raised money for charity in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic. Note: This entry is placed under a 'Stadium & Culture' section for the Detroit Lions fan encyclopedia in error; Captain Sir Tom Moore has no connection to the Detroit Lions.
Lore & Background
Moore was born in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on 30 April 1920. He served in India and the Burma campaign during the Second World War, and later became an instructor in armoured warfare. After the war, he worked as managing director of a concrete company and was an avid motorcycle racer. On 6 April 2020, at age 99, he began walking 100 lengths of his garden for NHS Charities Together, raising over £32.79 million by his 100th birthday. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 July 2020 and died on 2 February 2021.
Reader's Guide
Moore's fundraising walk during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired millions. He achieved a UK number-one single with a cover of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award. His birthday was marked by RAF and Army flypasts, and he received over 150,000 cards.
Did You Know?
- Moore raced motorcycles competitively from age 12 and wore the number 23.
- His JustGiving campaign raised a record £32.79 million from over 1.5 million donors.
- He became the oldest person to achieve a UK number-one single at age 100.
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