Captain Tom Moore, the veteran of World War II, who walked into the hearts of a nation in the inner room as he shuffled up and down his garden to raise money for health workers, has died after test positive for COVID-19. He was 100.
His family mourned Moore’s death Tuesday in a tweet with his photo. Two days earlier, the family had a statement He said he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus.
Captain Tom, as he became known in newspaper headlines and TV interviews, set out to raise £ 1,000 for the British National Health Service by walking 100 laps from his backyard. But his search went viral, capturing the imagination of millions sitting at home during the first wave of the pandemic. Donations poured in from across Britain and as far as the United States and Japan, raising about £ 33 million (more than $ 40 million).
“It’s a lot of dollars, is it not,” Moore told CBS foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata.
DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS
After finishing his walk, Moore also takes part in a charity single, ‘You’re Never Walk Alone’, and becomes the oldest British no. 1 artist ever.
“I was absolutely amazed, I must say. It brought a smile to my face because I thought, ‘Oh, honey, look at all the musical people who have been pushed from the top slot all over the world,'” he said.
Moore was honored with a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth in July. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called him “a true national treasure”.
For three weeks in April, fans are greeted daily videos of Captain Tom, hunched over with age, and pushes his walker stubbornly into the garden. But it was his sunny attitude during a dark moment that inspired people to look beyond illness and loss.
“Please always remember, tomorrow will be a great day,” Moore said in an interview during an interview, uttering the words that have become his trademark.