He originally pledged to raise £1,000 through online platform JustGiving by walking 100 laps of his garden before celebrating his 100th birthday at the end of April.
And, Captain Tom Moore, 99 – who has now raised over £27.5 million for the NHS during the coronavirus crisis – has urged his legion of fans to ‘donate their generous gifts to a local care home.’
The much-loved retired war veteran has received over 40,000 cards, letters and presents to date, as well as offers of walkers and chairs, but insists he has ‘everything he needs’ and suggested the ‘lovely items’ be redirected to those in need.
Legend! Captain Tom Moore, 99 – who has raised over £27.5 million for the NHS during the COVID-19 crisis – has urged his fans to ‘donate their generous gifts to a local care home’
On Wednesday afternoon, his official Twitter Page shared a message from Tom, which read: ‘I have very kindly been offered lots of lovely items, such as walkers, chairs and other items.
‘I have everything I need, so instead of giving to me, perhaps you could donate these generous offers to a local care home. Thank you.’
Royal Mail also tweeted photographs showing staff standing with the impressive amount of post awaiting the former serviceman.
Their tweet read: ‘WOW! 40,000 plus cards, letters, and presents for @captaintommoore at Marston Moretaine Post Office. What a legend.’
Wow! The much-loved retired war veteran has received over 40,000 cards, letters and presents to date, as well as offers of walkers and chairs
What a guy! Captain Tom insists he has ‘everything he needs’ and suggested the ‘lovely items’ be redirected to those in need
So much mail! Royal Mail tweeted photographs showing staff standing with the impressive amount of post awaiting the former serviceman
His fundraising initiative gained traction and quickly became the biggest fundraiser in JustGiving history as people across the country supported his kindhearted gesture.
Captain Tom went on to join forces with singer Michael, 57, and the NHS choir to release a charity cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
On Sunday, it was revealed that their collaboration with the NHS Voices of Care Choir had stormed to the top of the Official Top 40 music chart.
The charity single is at the top of iTunes and Captain Tom’s campaign to raise funds for the NHS has so far reached over £27.5 million on his JustGiving page.
Legend! Royal Mail revealed over 40,000 items have been sent to the war veteran
Superstar: Captain Tom insists he has ‘everything he needs’ and suggested the ‘lovely items,’ including walkers and chairs, be redirected to those in need
The Second World War veteran originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire had vowed to walk 100 laps of his garden at home before his 100th birthday on April 30 in honour of the NHS.
He completed his target a fortnight before his milestone birthday and Captain Tom has vowed to keep on walking laps of his garden in the Bedfordshire Village of Marston Moretaine in order to continue raising money for the fight against coronavirus.
Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah said of her dad’s chart success: ‘Oh my! Can anything else happen to us, do you think?
‘We are working our little socks off as you can imagine, we are fully Team Tom! Thank you for supporting us all and thank you to the British public, we really appreciate it.’
Hannah revealed that her father was overjoyed to have worked with Michael, one of his favourite singers, on the single.
She added: ‘He loves a bit of country and western, he loves a bit of André Rieu, he loves a bit of big band, he loves World War II veteran songs, but he has always loved Michael Ball, so he’s in very good company.’
Thrilled: Hannah revealed that her father was overjoyed to have worked with Michael, one of his favourite singers, on the single (pictured above Captain Tom singing)