British national hero Captain Tom Moore breaks 40-year-old fundraising world record and becomes oldest person to achieve a number 1 single in UK charts! 

Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievement announced that Captain Tom Moore (UK) has achieved two Guinness World Records titles.

Captain Tom Moore Guinness World Records
Captain Tom Moore

As of the 21 April, Tom had raised an incredible total of £27,699,581 (the total has now passed £28m) earning him the record for the most money raised by charity walk (individual). Not only this, but after teaming up with UK singer Michael Ball to release a cover of You’ll never walk alone and raise more money in aid of the NHS, as of this week, at the age of 99 years and 359 days, Tom is now officially the oldest person to reach number one in the UK charts, securing him a place in the Guinness World Records book and a place in history.

Captain Tom, aged 99 and a WWII veteran from Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, had originally aimed to raise £1000 for NHS Charities Together by completing 100 laps of his garden just before his 100th birthday – a challenge he completed on 16 April. However, his fundraising efforts very quickly surpassed his original goal and he can now add an official place in record-breaking history to his list of accolades following this astonishing demonstration of dedication and selflessness.

Subsequently, Captain Tom and Michael Ball’s charity single has knocked The Weeknd from the number one position in the UK charts, meaning that he is now officially the oldest person to hold this spot, a title formally held by Sir Tom Jones, who was 68 years and nine months old when he sang Barry Islands in the Stream with Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Robin Gibb. The charity single topped the UK chart on 21 March 2009.

On learning of his new record title, Captain Tom Moore said he feels very honoured to receive recognition from the Guinness World Records.

My charity walk has raised more money than I could have possibly imagined and I am so thankful to those who have donated money and bought the single so we could achieve these records together and raise money for our incredible NHS during these difficult times. These really are Guinness World Records titles for all of us.

Guinness World Records Editor in Chief Craig Glenday said that Tom’s remarkable efforts prove that age should never be a barrier to making a difference, to inspiring the nation or to breaking world records.

The fact that this indomitable 99-year-old has achieved all three of these things makes him truly a national hero that rightly deserves his place in the history books. We’re proud to be able to welcome him into the Guinness World Records family.

Captain Tom’s outstanding fundraising achievement sees him break a record which has stood for 40 years. The previous record for the most money raised by a charity walk (individual) was Canadian $14.7 million (equivalent to £5.4 million at the time and £27,201,900 today, adjusted for inflation), raised by Terry Fox (1958-81) of Canada, who, with an artificial leg, ran from St John’s, Newfoundland to Thunder Bay, Ontario in 143 days from 12 April to 2 September 1980. A subsequent telethon was arranged shortly after by the CTV television network, which raised it further to Canadian $10 million in Fox’s honour.

Captain Tom Moore’s Just Giving page may be viewed through this link: justgiving.com.