Lockdown Legend
Four weeks into lockdown and the need for good news is greater than ever. So we, along with the rest of the nation, were delighted when the inspirational fundraising efforts of Captain Tom Moore took over the news this week.
The retired 99-year-old WWII veteran first appeared on BBC breakfast last Thursday with a humble goal – his aim was to raise £1,000 for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday at the end of the month. Within just 24 hours Tom had smashed his target by raising £70,000, and now, at the time of writing, his total has surpassed an incredible £18 million!
Aside from the sheer brilliance of Tom Moore, this amazing and heart-warming story proves two things – that good will always win, and that you’re never too old to reap the rewards of a good old PR campaign.
In the midst of a global pandemic, Captain Tom’s uplifting story came along at the perfect time for everyone. Stuck at home and inundated with bleak news from every angle, Tom Moore has given the nation – and the world – a zimmer (sorry, we couldn’t resist!) of hope when we needed it most. From The Israel Times, The Phuket News and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Tom’s story has been covered in more than 50 countries across the globe – proving that despite coronavirus fears, good news will always travel fast.
And showing us all how a little bit of good PR can get you a long way, since his initial BBC Breakfast appearance, Tom has featured on BBC Radio 2, Good Morning Britain and even received a special mention from Matt Hancock in a daily press briefing. He’s also shown the young ones up with his clever use of social media, racking up an impressive 145k followers on Twitter and coining the trending hashtag #TomorrowWillBeAGoodDay, not to mention his regular exchanges with major celebs.
While Covid-19 keeps us locked-down, Captain Tom keeps us going and proves just what an admirable cause, a kind spirit and a little help from PR can achieve. In just seven short days he’s turned his fundraising target from £1k to £18 million, and transformed himself from quiet, retired war veteran to lockdown legend and deserving national treasure.
Share
