Photo: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
Tom Moore, 99, a retired British army captain, walks to raise money for health workers in the pandemic. His initial goal was to walk the length of his garden 100 times before his 100th birthday April 30. He did it and is still going strong.
Public Radio International (PRI) is a wonderful service. It covers stories from around the world with greater depth than most egocentric US outlets. Sometimes PRI’s stories take off, like this one, which you may have already heard from another news source.
It’s about 99-year-old World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore, who feels deep gratitude to the health-care workers who looked after him in previous illnesses and made up his mind to help them during a pandemic that puts them at risk.
From PRI on Instagram: “He did it! Today, 99-year-old World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore achieved the goal he set up for himself earlier this month: to walk the length of his back garden 100 times before his 100th birthday on April 30.
“But Captain Moore didn’t walk just for recreation. He was also raising money for Britain’s national health service (NHS), now strained because of the coronavirus pandemic. He raised an astonishing 16 million GBP, or nearly $20 million — way above his initial fundraising goal of 1,000 GBP, or $1,200.
“Moore said he wanted to thank NHS workers for the care he received while recovering from skin cancer and a broken hip.
‘The patience and the kindness that I’ve got from all of them from top to bottom was absolutely amazing. So, anybody who is helping with me and the National Health Service, I’d be very pleased, because they’ve done so well for me and they’re doing so well for everybody else at the moment,’ Captain Moore said. ‘I think we must say “Well done, National Health Service.” ‘ “
Listen online to the PRI story, here. And do make PRI part of your ongoing routine. Yesterday alone it had a slew of intriguing topics, and its presentation of international music is as good as I’ve heard anywhere:
- ‘No fast track’ to normal when it comes to reopening economies April 16, 2020
- The myth of ‘disinfecting tunnels’ April 16, 2020
- Schools reopen in Denmark April 16, 2020
- This researcher finds hope in ‘bright spots’ among coral reefs April 16, 2020
- Racing to develop a drug to fight COVID-19 April 16, 2020
- China’s government wants more say in COVID-19 research April 16, 2020
- Finnish social media celebrities combat coronavirus April 16, 2020
- ‘Chinatown’s on life support’ April 16, 2020
- A song celebrating the little victories in life April 16, 2020
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
What an amazing man. Thank you for sharing this.
I do admire someone who is grateful and acts on his gratitude—never mind age or infirmity. He must be great to know personally.
I had heard about this. He puts me to shame.
I love his attitude: if you can only walk to the end of your garden, and that, only with effort, then walk to the end of your garden! No excuses.
He’s amazing!! Some days I can barely get off my couch and look what he’s doing. What an inspiration. Thanks for the link to the site. I’ll check it out!
Oh, Michelle, I’m sure you ca always get off your couch! You strike me as a very energetic person!
It’s a totally marvellous story and last time I checked he’d raised £20 million!
Amazing!