Capt Tom Moore to be recognised by PM for 'heroic efforts' as NHS fundraiser hits £18 million

He is fundraising for NHS Charities Together

Captain Tom Moore will be recognised by the Prime Minister for his ‘heroic efforts, after his fundraiser for the NHS reached £18 million.

Downing Street said Boris Johnson would ‘look at ways to recognise Tom for his heroic efforts’ after a Change.org petition to give him a knighthood reached 475,000 signatures.

The 99-year-old WWII veteran set up the JustGiving fundraiser with an initial target of £1,000 for NHS Charities together.

Captain Tom Moore walked 100 laps of his garden. Picture: PA

He aimed to raise the money by walking 100 25-metre laps of his garden in Bedforshire before his 100th birthday on April 30.

He has now raised £18 million and is the biggest ever fundraiser on JustGiving, having completed his 100 laps on Thursday April 16.

Speaking to the BBC, Captain Moore said that the money raised was an “absolutely fantastic sum of money”.

He said: "We could never imagine that sort of money and it's unbelievable that people could be so kind to give that sort of money to the NHS."

“This amazing motivational hero deserves to be awarded a knighthood,” said Sonia Wilson, who set up the Change.org petition.

“As a NHS midwife, I know how much his fundraising and support means on the ground. And how much it means to staff during this awful pandemic. He deserves to be knighted.”