Captain Tom blown away and humbled by 100,000 birthday cards

£29M Hero's Daughter tells of his 100 Thrill

- Kelly Jenkins

CAPTAIN Tom Moore has been “blown away” by the public’s kindness after getting 100,000 birthday cards.

The inspirational Army veteran, who has raised almost £29million for NHS charities, has also been sent at least 1,000 presents in anticipation of his 100th birthday this week.

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday People, Tom’s eldest daughter Lucy Teixeira said: “At last count my dad has had around 100,000 cards and a thousand gifts of everything from chocolate and flowers.

“He is absolutely blown away and humbled by the support.

“I’m going to be singing Happy Birthday to him on BBC Breakfast on Thursday, so I’m looking forward to doing that. And he will have cake – he loves cake.”

Tom, who first aimed to raise only £1,000 by completing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday on Thursday, has also become the oldest person to top the UK singles charts.

His version of You’ll Never Walk Alone, recorded with Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir, has helped raise even more for the NHS Charities Together fund.

Incredible

And next month ITV are to screen a special documentary in which Tom recalls his wartime experiences in the brutal Burma campaign, known as the Forgotten War.

Lucy, 51, of Reading, said: “It’s amazing. I mean what a journey in less than two weeks – incredible.

“It was such a simple thing to do. We as a family thought £1,000 was perfectly reasonable.

“To watch it all unfold has been thrilling. We are incredibly proud.”