Today, Captain Sir Tom Moore sadly passed away after his battle with Coronavirus.
100-year-old Sir Tom Moore raised close to £33 million for the NHS and has since become a national hero.
At 99 years old, he took to the spotlight when he challenged himself to complete 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money for the NHS.
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Sir Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, informed the BBC how he had been treated for pneumonia over the past few weeks and with a weakened immune system caught Covid-19.
He was taken to Bedford Hospital on Sunday after severe breathing difficulties, finally finding peace this afternoon.
With Hannah, Georgia, and Benjie by his side, and daughter Lucy on FaceTime, Sir Tom Moore was surrounded by family. In a statement posted on social media by his family, tributes said: “We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life.”
“We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We share laughter and tears together.”
Bedford Hospital staff had reportedly been “unfalteringly professional, kind, and compassionate and have given us many more years with him than we ever would have imagined.”
Here is what our contributors have to say about this sudden news:
“Despite the controversy surrounding his last few weeks, we have to remember that Captain Tom did more for the NHS in the early stages of the pandemic than our own government. It is sad that he was taken away by what he raised money to prevent. May we remember him for his effort, his determination, and his fight for the NHS.” – Lauren Taylor
“This year has already been a whirlwind of bad news and this is no exception. But rather than feel sadness and despair at the loss of such an important man, I feel humble and respect knowing how much he loved our country and fought for our NHS. Doing 100 laps of his garden at 99 years old is such an incredible achievement and one that will go down in history. He may no longer be with us but he will always be in our hearts.” – Amy Rogers
“Captain Sir Tom Moore was a national treasure and a symbol of hope for many during the first lockdown and beyond. His compassion and resilience were inspiring and I cannot begin to imagine how many people across the UK and the world were lifted by the morale boost that he brought us in such trying times.” – Caitlin Parr
“Captain Tom embodied so much of the community spirit, warm-heartedness, and the compassion that has got us through this pandemic. He truly was a beacon of light during these dark times. The loss of Captain Tom is another stark reminder of the damage this virus has caused and of the importance of staying safe, keeping to the rules, as as a country, taking swift action against new developments. I wish his family sincere condolences and hope that we, as a country, are able to keep up his memory by channelling his goodwill and spirit as we continue to battle this pandemic.” – Sanjana Idnani
“Captain Tom came into the public’s life at a time of fear and loneliness. He inspired us all to be kinder and work as a community.” – Orla McAndrew
“Captain Sir Tom Moore became a British icon in a short space of time. He dedicated his final year to raising money for an institution that he had grown up alongside. Starting with a target of £1000 that soon exceeded nearly £33 million just goes to show what you can achieve if you set your mind to it. His determination and endurance to go that extra mile for his country is such an honourable trait and one that won’t be forgotten any time soon.”- Maddy Raine
“Truly saddened to hear of the passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore. Despite being the grand age of 100, the ex-military officer was a beacon of hope for many of us during the first lockdown and beyond. He touched the hearts of the entire nation and we will never forget his legacy. Thank you for your service Sir Tom and rest easy.” – Laura Buckle
1,449 deaths because of Covid-19 in the UK were reported in the latest 24 hour period with 16,840 new cases of the virus, placing the overall death toll of people with Covid-19 on their death certificate to 112,660.
Our thoughts lie with Captain Tom’s family during this challenging time.
Madeleine Raine
Featured image courtesy of David Tomaseti via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license is available here.