Coronavirus: Harry Kane salutes Captain Tom Moore as fundraising hero celebrates 100th birthday
Captain Tom Moore raised £30million for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden, and he was lauded by sport stars on his 100th birthday.
England captain Harry Kane saluted war veteran Captain Tom Moore on Thursday as the fundraising hero celebrated his 100th birthday. The WWII veteran has become a national hero in the UK after walking 100 laps of his garden in an effort to bring in money for the NHS Charities Together group, and a public rally behind his efforts saw the challenge raise over £30million.
He was made an honorary colonel to mark his birthday, which was marked with a Royal Air Force flypast and messages from the Queen and prime minister Boris Johnson.
Captain Tom gets promotion and a place in England cricket team
Kane showed his support for the centenarian on Twitter, writing: "Happy birthday @captaintommoore! An incredible inspiration. Have a great day."
The England cricket team also declared Captain Tom an honorary member of their side, with former captain Michael Vaughan saying on BBC Breakfast: "We all want to welcome you, Captain Tom, to our team.
"As you celebrate a maiden century in the company of your family, enjoying the adulation and the affection of a nation, this is our way and our time, to say thank you."
Vaughan's fellow ex-England skipper Andrew Strauss spoke of the "incredible impact" made by the West Yorkshire-born former British Army man.
"A truly amazing privilege"
Responding to a message from an array of cricketers, Captain Tom said via Twitter: "What a privilege. Truly amazing to be made an Honorary Member of the England cricket team. Thank you @MichaelVaughan and @englandcricket for this very special honour."