British veteran raises 12 million pounds for frontline health workers

A 99-year-old war veteran has raised more than 12 million pounds (15 million U.S. dollars) for the National Health Service (NHS) by completing 100 laps of his garden.

With the aid of a walking frame, Tom Moore, a retired civil servant and Second World War veteran, had planned to do 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire, England, before his 100th birthday on April 30.

He finished the challenge Thursday morning after more than 620,000 people donated to his fundraising page.

Local media reported that Moore originally wanted to raise 1,000 pounds (1,247 U.S. dollars) for NHS Charities Together to thank the NHS staff who helped him treat his cancer and a broken hip.

"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," he told BBC.

The veteran has received multiple messages of thanks from NHS workers, sports personalities and politicians.

His achievements were also singled out by British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who said during the Wednesday evening press conference at Downing Street that Moore was "an inspiration to all."

NHS Charities Together, the national membership organization for over 140 official NHS Charities in England, Scotland and Wales, said it was truly inspired and humbled.

As of Wednesday morning, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 98,476, the Department of Health and Social Care said Wednesday.