Captain Sir Thomas Moore, a 100-year-old World War II veteran who raised money for charities by walking laps around his garden, died three days after being hospitalized with coronavirus, NPR reports.
Known as Captain Tom, Moore started his fundraising walks on April 6, 2020 with the goal of raising £1,000 for charity before his 100th birthday on April 30th. By the time he reached his birthday, his campaign had raised more than £30 million.
During the coronavirus, photos of Moore behind his walker, in a coat and tie, military medals on his chest, cheered millions in the U.K. as the nation struggled through the early months of the pandemic.
Captain Tom was honored on his 100th birthday with flyovers by RAF squadrons. He was featured on a pop song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” sung by Michael Ball, making him the oldest person to ever reach #1 on British charts. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth last July for his efforts.