Capt. Tom Moore, the beloved British war veteran who walked the length of his garden 100 times to raise money ahead of his 100th birthday in April, has received a knighthood for his fundraising initiative, which brought in about $40 million for Britain's National Health Service charities.
Last month, more than half a million people signed a petition asking for Moore to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his efforts. Now, it appears their wish has been granted. Reacting to news he was to be knighted on Wednesday, Moore, who served in India during World War II, told BBC Breakfast that it was an "outstanding honor" and said he was "delighted."
Widely hailed as a "legend," Moore has become a national and international treasure in recent weeks, with many branding him Britain's light amid the darkness of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
In April, Moore set out to raise £1,000 (nearly $1,250) for the health service and its staff during the health crisis by walking the 82-foot length of his garden back and forth 100 times, using his walker for support. He sought to complete the laps before his birthday on April 30. But just 24 hours after he started, he had shattered his target, raising the equivalent of $8,750.
Moore vowed to keep on walking. He completed his final lap two weeks ahead of schedule, as the figure hit $15 million. On April 30, his fundraising page closed, the total a staggering £32,796,510 ($40 million) pledged from over one million donors worldwide.
"Arise SirTomMoore! Congratulations to captaintommoore," the British Army tweeted.
"I really do thank you from the bottom of my heart," Moore told those who have supported his journey.
Winfrey donates $12M to home cities
Oprah Winfrey is giving grants to the cities she's called home through her $12 million coronavirus relief fund. She announced Wednesday that her Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation will donate money to organizations dedicated to helping underserved communities in Chicago; Baltimore; Nashville; Milwaukee; and Kosciusko, Miss., where she was born. "There is going to be a need for people of means to step up," she said. "Even when the virus is gone, the devastation left by people not being able to work for months who were holding on paycheck to paycheck, who have used up their savings — people are going to be in need. So my thing is, look in your own neighborhood, in your own backyard to see how you can serve."
