War hero raises more than $13 million for healthcare workers: 'You are the pride of Britain'

A British World War II veteran has gone viral for a fundraiser that he hosted to raise money for healthcare workers.

On April 10, 99-year-old Captain Tom Moore took to Twitter to announce that he would team up with the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) to raise money for the workers.

The tweet received over 34,000 likes and more than 2,000 supportive comments from fellow Twitter users.

“Just donated, well done Tom,” British racing driver Alice Powell tweeted in response. “What an inspiration!”

“You are such an inspiration Tom,” DJ Mary Anne Hobbs tweeted. “You remind us all of the very best elements of humanity.”

“What a dear, incredible and wonderful man you are,” CNN commentator Victoria Arbiter added. “You are an inspiration to us all and they don’t call you The Greatest Generation for nothing. Congratulations to you. You are the pride of Britain!”

Although Moore’s initial goal was to raise £1,000 (about $1,200 USD) by walking 100 laps around his garden in Bedfordshire, he far exceeded it. By April 15, the veteran had raised £10,719,399 (more than $13 million USD) from more than 500,000 donors.

According to the BBC, Moore’s gesture was a way of thanking the workers who had helped him with treatment for a broken hip and cancer. With the help of a walker, the veteran had planned to walk 100 laps of an 82-foot loop in intervals of 10.

Speaking to the news outlet, Moore’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said she was overwhelmed by the amount of support her father has received.

“It [has been] beyond our wildest expectations, no words can express our gratitude to the British public for getting behind Tom,” she said.

Ellie Orton, chief executive of the charity NHS Charities Together, echoed similar sentiments and wanted to “express our gratitude and our huge admiration for Captain Tom, for the NHS and for everybody who is donating.”

Per the fundraiser’s website, Moore was born in Keighley, Yorkshire. He was enlisted in 8 DWR (145 RAC) at the start of the war and transferred to 9DWR in India before fighting in the Arakan, a coastal region in southern Myanmar.

If you liked this story, you might want to read about this dancing 97-year-old WWII Navy pilot.

More from In The Know:

Teacher enlists students to send Christmas care packages to veterans

This $9 miniature vacuum will keep leftovers fresh for days

Treat yourself with this super hydrating holographic peel-off mask

Stock up on home goods during Target’s sale right now

The post War hero raises more than $13 million for healthcare workers appeared first on In The Know.