99-year-old Captain Tom Moore set out to raise £1,000 for the NHS by walking around his garden, but has now raised more than £28,000,000 just days before his 100th birthday.
The Second World War veteran has achieved the record title for the most money raised by charity walk (individual), raising a staggering total of £27,699,581 on JustGiving as of 21 April 2020.
The figure continues to grow today.
More than 125,000 birthday cards, including ones from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and England football captain Harry Kane, have been sent to a Bedfordshire school which Captain Tom’s grandson 16-year-old Benjie Ingram-Moore attends.
After breaking a record that has stood for 40 years, Captain Tom Moore has earned himself a spot in the coveted Guinness World Records book, as well as featuring on the front cover of Guinness World Records 2021!
The previous record for the most money raised by a charity walk (individual) was Can$14.7 million (the equivalent of £5.4 million at the time and £27,201,900 today, adjusted for inflation).
This was raised by Terry Fox (1958-81) of Canada, who, with a prosthetic leg, ran from St John’s, Newfoundland to Thunder Bay, Ontario in 143 days in 1980.
Not only has Tom broken this long-standing record, but today (28 April 2020) Tom and Michael Ball (UK) officially topped the UK charts with their single You’ll Never Walk Alone.
This also makes Tom the oldest person to reach number one in the UK charts at 99 years and 359 days old.
Captain Tom Moore said:
“I feel very honoured to receive recognition from Guinness World Records.
“My charity walk has raised more money than I could have possibly imagined and I am so thankful to those who have donated money and bought the single so we could achieve these records together and raise money for our incredible NHS during these difficult times.
“These really are Guinness World Records titles for all of us.”
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