Suffolk gets behind Captain Tom 100 challenge

The late veteran's family is encouraging people from across the country to get involved.

Author: James SweetnamPublished 30th Apr 2021

People across Suffolk are among those getting involved in a challenge this Bank Holiday weekend, in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Today would have been the veteran's 101st birthday.

In 2020 the Second World War veteran boosted the spirits of the British public by raising £32 million for the NHS, by walking 100 laps of his back garden, in Bedfordshire before his 100th birthday on April 30th last year.

The fundraising hero passed away on February 2nd 2021 after testing positive for Covid-19.

On what would’ve been his 101st birthday weekend, Captain Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore has set a new fundraising challenge.

The public are encouraged to do 100 of anything of their choosing from scoring 100 goals or baking 100 cakes, all while sticking to Covid guidelines.

All proceeds will be going to The Captain Tom Foundation or a charity of the challenger’s choosing.

Hannah Ingram-Moore said: “We’re still a grieving family.”

“I really hope people see this for what it is, which is an absolute chance to bring joy, put money back into charities and support the Captain Tom Foundation, which after all is the legacy of hope that he’s left us behind.”

Hannah will be participating in the challenge herself to further her father’s legacy.

She said the family will take part by continuing Sir Tom’s walk “right where he left it because we feel it’s the only right thing to do.”

Suffolk is full of people also getting behind the challenge, including baking enthusiast Harriet Anne Rush.

She's going to be baking 100 rainbow cookies this weekend: “He did so much charity work for the NHS and I think a lot of people will want to follow in his footsteps.”

Harriet says she has been personally inspired by Captain Tom and is using his achievements to give her the determination to make every single cookie.

She continued: “Making 100 cookies is hard, but we’ll get through it, because he got through 100 laps of his garden.”

Harriet's not the only one getting involved, lots of charities in the county are also getting behind the idea.

Before his passing, Captain Tom was made aware by his family that his 101st birthday celebration would be an inclusive event and his family believe that he would’ve loved participating himself.

Hannah has a couple of ideas as to what her father would’ve done for the challenge.

The mother of two said: “My father loved the beach so he would have built 100 sandcastles or jump 100 waves.”

Although Captain Tom won’t be there to see the celebrations, his daughter still believes that her father would have been thrilled with what has been organised.

She added: “I really regret that he’s not here to share it, as I think he would just love it, but he would have felt so proud … he would have just felt proud to the core.”

On a weekend where people will be up and down the country will be doing all sorts of different challenges, Captain Tom’s mission to raise money for charity continues as his positive influence creates a sense of togetherness and will result in even more money being made for the causes that he believed in.

Hannah can’t wait to see her vision come to life through her father’s eyes.

She said: “We look forward to celebrating with you and seeing how you do the Captain Tom 100, your way.”

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