Staff at Harborough district crematorium are saluting NHS fundraising legend Captain Sir Tom Moore – by raising money to boost his charity

Staff at a Harborough district crematorium are saluting NHS fundraising legend Captain Sir Tom Moore – by raising money to boost his charity.

A team at Great Glen Crematorium on London Road are honouring the pandemic hero by swinging into action on what would have been his 101st birthday next Friday (April 30).

They are acting after the inspirational Second World War veteran – known to the world as Captain Tom - died in February after generating

over £38 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden.

Westerleigh Group is challenging staff at its 35 sites nationwide to come up with creative ways of supporting the Captain Tom Foundation.

Employees at Great Glen Crematorium will be putting their best feet forward by walking 101 laps of their site to boost the wartime icon’s charity.

Site manager Harvey Watson said: “Each member of staff will be completing 20 laps of the site, which is exactly one mile.

“We will then all walk the last mile together, making it 101 miles for Captain Tom’s 101st birthday, which seemed to be the most appropriate thing to do.”

As well as clocking up 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday last April, Captain Tom also had a number one hit UK single with a new version of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The much-loved father and grandad recorded the smash hit with Michael Ball.

Captain Tom’s immense efforts also earned him two Guinness World Records - for raising the most amount of money in an individual charity walk and being the oldest person to top the UK singles charts.

Harvey added: “The Captain Tom Foundation raises money for charities and organisations which were close to his heart, including several which support people, and their families, with life-limiting illnesses and who are facing or coping with bereavement.

“This resonates with our work, which is why Westerleigh Group and Great Glen Crematorium were keen to support the foundation and honour Captain Tom’s 101st birthday.

“Unfortunately, lockdown restrictions mean we are still not able to invite people to our crematorium to take part in any fundraising activities directly,” he said.

“But anyone in the community who has used our crematorium can still be part of our fundraising effort, by making a donation to our new Just Giving page.

“The senior leadership team at Westerleigh has got our fundraising started with a £500 donation.

“Through the efforts of our colleagues and the support of our communities, Westerleigh Group wants to be able to make a meaningful donation to the Captain Tom Foundation to mark what would have been in his 101st birthday.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so through Westerleigh Group’s Just Giving page, mentioning Great Glen Crematorium in their donation message.

The page can be found at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/westerleigh-group