Captain Tom Moore to receive knighthood this week

Captain Tom Moore is to receive his knighthood from the Queen in a private ceremony later this week.

The record breaking charity fundraiser will be honoured at an open air, private ceremony at Windsor Castle on Friday.

The 100-year-old Second World War veteran raised £32m for NHS Charities Together through a sponsored walk around his garden. This is the most money raised by an individual charity walk.

He had originally aimed to raise just £1,000 and was awarded a knighthood for his fundraising efforts in May after being nominated by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

His efforts have helped NHS Charities Together raise a total of £130m for its Covid-19 Appeal, which launched in March.

“I could never have imagined this would happen to me. It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty The Queen. It is going to be the most special of days for me,” said Captain Tom Moore.

A message from Tom 'I could never have imagined this would happen to me. It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty The Queen. It is going to be the most special of days for me'#FridayWillBeAGoodDay pic.twitter.com/zha2bCIMzi
— Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) July 15, 2020

Earlier this month it emerged that £30m has so far been distributed to NHS charities through the appeal. The focus of further funding awards will be on supporting communities, NHS staff and patients in recovering from the long-term effects of the pandemic.

Captain Tom Moore’s fundraising drive has shown how the general public is increasingly being drawn to creative and personal ways of raising funds.

Last month charities were warned in a report that they risk losing supporters if they don’t ‘get creative’ and allow donors to have more creative freedom in their fundraising.