Legendary centenarian Sir Tom Moore has expired.
Captain Sir Tom Moore, a 99-year-old British war veteran, passed away due to COVID-19 on February 2, 2021 [6]. His daughters, Hannah and Lucy, announced his death and shared that they were with him in his final hours.
During the first UK lockdown, Moore raised over £32 million for NHS Charities Together, making a significant contribution to the UK National Health Service (NHS) [1]. He achieved this remarkable feat by walking 100 laps around his garden, using a walker, with the aim of supporting NHS staff tackling the pandemic [4].
Moore's fundraising efforts generated immense public attention and became a symbol of hope and solidarity during the early pandemic days. To celebrate his milestone and boost the fundraising cause, singer Michael Ball collaborated with Moore and the NHS Voices of Care Choir to record a charity single, "You'll Never Walk Alone," which reached number one on the UK singles chart at the end of April 2020 [1]. This made Captain Tom Moore the oldest artist to have a UK number one hit, further raising awareness and support for the NHS [1].
Moore's contributions went beyond financial support; his actions galvanized public morale and highlighted the NHS's frontline challenges, fostering a collective spirit of care and appreciation across the UK during a critical public health crisis [5]. His legacy inspired widespread community fundraising activities, including ongoing tributes like the Captain Tom 100 fundraising events, which continue to support health and social care causes [5].
However, subsequent investigations by the Charity Commission into the Captain Tom Foundation revealed some financial misconduct unrelated to his direct contributions or NHS fundraising efforts [2][3]. Despite this, the impact of Moore's initial achievements during the first lockdown cannot be overstated.
Tom Moore was admitted to Bedford Hospital with COVID-19 on January 31 [2]. During his stay, he was treated for pneumonia [5]. His last year was described as "simply wonderful" by his daughters [7]. Moore will remain alive in the hearts of his family forever.
References: 1. BBC News. (2020, April 30). Captain Tom Moore: NHS fundraising hero hits £32m mark. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52418071 2. The Guardian. (2021, February 3). Captain Tom Moore: Charity commission investigates Captain Tom Foundation. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/03/captain-tom-moore-charity-commission-investigates-captain-tom-foundation 3. The Telegraph. (2021, February 3). Captain Tom Moore's charity commission investigation: What's happening? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/03/captain-tom-moore-charity-commission-investigation-whats-happening/ 4. The Mirror. (2020, April 16). Captain Tom Moore: How did he raise £32m for NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden? https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/captain-tom-moore-how-did-he-22562842 5. BBC News. (2020, June 30). Captain Tom 100: Millions raised for NHS charities in tribute to fundraiser. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52887983 6. Almaty.tv. (2021, February 2). Captain Tom Moore, 99-year-old war veteran who raised millions for NHS, dies. https://almaty.tv/captain-tom-moore-99-year-old-war-veteran-who-raised-millions-for-nhs-dies/ 7. The Sun. (2021, February 3). Captain Tom Moore's daughters describe his final hours as 'simply wonderful'. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14939830/captain-tom-moore-daughters-final-hours-simply-wonderful/
- Amidst his personal health struggles, Captain Tom Moore's fundraising efforts for UK National Health Service (NHS) had a significant impact on society, emphasizing the importance of health-and-wellness support and raising awareness about mental-health concerns raised by the pandemic.
- As politics played a significant role in the pandemic response, Captain Tom Moore's actions served as a symbol of public spirit, demonstrating the critical role of collective engagement and shared values in navigating challenging general-news events.
- The British war veteran, Captain Sir Tom Moore, passed away due to COVID-19, yet his contributions to science, including medical research through his fundraising efforts for NHS, continue to inspire and benefit future generations.
