A WAR veteran from Keighley has raised more than £2million for the NHS as he promises to walk 100 lengths of his garden before his 100th birthday.

Captain Tom Moore, who was born and brought up in Keighley, will take on 10 laps a day until he turns 100 at the end of the month.

An ex Keighley Grammar School student, he started out as an apprentice civil engineer before he was enlisted in the second world war.

He was part of 8 DWR (145 RAC) at the beginning of the war, and, in 1940, he was selected for officer training.

He was later posted to 9DWR in India, and served and fought on the Arakan, went to regiment to Sumatra after the Japanese surrender and returned to be instructor at armoured fighting vehicle school in Bovington.
Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

And it's hoped his fighting spirit will get his through his next challenge.

Just days into the charity fundraiser, he has raised £2,252,227.51 for NHS Charities Together.

He smashed his original target of £500,000 within hours.

All the money will help NHS staff, volunteers and patients impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Like captain Tom, more Bradfordians have pulled out all the stops to raise money for charities or causes close to their hearts.

Bradford's Robert Blacka climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest at home for the cancer charity which helped his late mother-in-law.

Robert Blacka live streamed his three-day-long Easter challenge which saw him climb up and down the stairs 4424 times. That's around 8848m or 29029ft.

Backed by viewers around the world, Robert raised £3,208.47.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The charity feat was dedicated to Macmillan Cancer Support who cared for the late Maureen Kellett, known by many as Lil Mo, who passed away this February.

Speaking before the charity challenge, the Bradfordian said he felt "sick" at the thought of the stair climb but was inspired to make a difference after hearing about Radio 1's similar Sport Relief climb.

More than 24,000 people tuned into his live stair climb videos throughout the weekend.

Looking back at the treatment his mother-in-law received, Robert said Macmillan do "amazing work".

Robert told the Telegraph & Argus: "I'm tired, but I'll be honest I'm not as bad as I thought I would be.

"I still feel pumped from the amazing response of well wishes and donations so it may be that helping me through.

"I'd hope that little Mo would be proud.

"I'm sure she'd have thought I was mad for taking on the challenge, but me and my wife have already joked that she would probably say 'You better do something good for me!' so I hope this qualifies.

"I'm just so glad I decided to do it and decided to live stream it.

"Apart from the amazing amount of money we have managed to raise and the awareness it has brought to the charity in this difficult time, it's helped me to reconnect with people I haven't spoken to in years, as well as inspire people who have taken the time to contact me with their own ideas for fund raising and getting back into fitness."

You can donate to Captain Tom Moore's Just Giving page by searching 'tomswalkforthenhs' and boost Robert Blacka's funds by visiting here.

All numbers correct at time of going to print.