How is Captain Tom Moore’s £26,000,000 helping the NHS?

Captain Tom Moore brought the UK together this week as he raised more than £26,000,000 for the NHS by walking 100 lengths of his garden.

He had initially set out to raise just £1,000 before his 100th birthday on April 30, but he quickly smashed through the target once his mission came to public attention. He completed the 100 laps earlier than planned, on April 16.

Since then, thousands have backed petitions for the World War Two veteran to be knighted by the Queen, while children across the country have begun making him birthday cards in preparation for his big day.

His JustGiving page is still open, with the platform previously crashing multiple times due to the surge in donations. The money has been donated to NHS Charities Together, which supports more than 160 health service organisations, often linked to NHS trusts.

NHS Charities Together chairman, Ian Lush, said the organisations had already received £35,000 each, with the money going towards the wellbeing of staff and helping patients connect with their families.

He told the BBC: ‘For example, we’re paying for extra counselling for staff because they’re going through a really traumatic time, we’re paying for food packages, for wellbeing packs they can pick up after a shift and take home so they don’t have to worry about shopping.’

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Some of the donation money will also be spent on setting up wellbeing spaces in hospitals, where staff can rest or release emotions during or after their shifts.

Mr Lush said the cash is also going towards extra WiFi and electronic devices for patients to use to contact their families while receiving treatment. He said it had already made a ‘real difference’ in hospitals.

Captain Tom, born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, was inspired to raise the money after receiving treatment for skin cancer and a broken hip two years ago.

Today, he told the Sunday Mirror: ‘My message to the nation right now is, tomorrow will be a good day.

‘We will get through this and come out of it stronger, more united and ready to face any challenge together.’

You can donate to his JustGiving page here.

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