Captain Sir Tom Moore releases his autobiography and launches Captain Tom Foundation
After breaking fundraising records, topping the charts, receiving a knighthood and appearing on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, World War Two veteran and national treasure Captain Sir Tom Moore is releasing an autobiography.
The 100-year-old appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning to tell Kate Garraway and Alex Beresford all about the stories in the book of his life and children's book he's also written.
Captain Sir Tom and his family officially launch The Captain Tom Foundation today. It has been set up to continue to inspire people and ensure Tom’s message of hope becomes an enduring legacy.
Talking about why he's launched the foundation, his daughter Hannah Moore said: “We want to stay together to continue to do powerfully good things. Inspiring hope where it’s needed most and supporting loss, loneliness and bereavement.”
Tom's record-breaking charity walk, which raised £38.9million for NHS Charities Together, was totally unexpected and the family were humbled by the outpouring of generosity from people across the UK and all over the world. It became clear to them that they could go on helping many more people and that's how the idea for the foundation was born.
With gift aid added, the war veteran raised £38.9m for NHS charities by walking 100 lengths of his garden in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday in April.
Captain Sir Tom and his family have identified causes close to their hearts which will benefit from the newly formed Foundation: combating loneliness, supporting people facing bereavement, championing education and equality and supporting friends overseas.
There are four charities that the foundation will raise money for: MIND, The Royal British Legion, Helen and Douglas House and Willen Hospice. The foundation are encouraging people to raise their own money or donate to them and the money will go to the charities listed above.
In his official autobiography, Captain Sir Tom Moore tells us of his long and dramatic life; growing up in the Yorkshire countryside, how his spirit was forged on the battlefields of Burma; fearlessly racing motorbikes competitively, taking off for the Himalayas and Everest in his nineties (simply because he'd never been) and finally, how this old soldier came to do his bit for the NHS, becoming the nation's hero in our darkest hour resulting in him being knighted by The Queen for his fundraising efforts!
Hannah said Captain Sir Tom "surprised" himself when writing the book: “I think he somewhat surprised himself. It brings to life all of the highs and lows. Often people see the finished article but what you see is the brilliance and determination.”
The children's book Captain Sir Tom has also released The book is described as 'an inspirational picture book about adventure, helping people and never giving up'. It tells Captain Sir Tom's incredible story and is fully illustrated for younger readers.
The book is also full of the wisdom that the war veteran has gleaned over his one hundred years – that anyone can do or be anything they want, that we can achieve so much more when we come together, and that tomorrow will be a good day