Captain Tom Moore Has Now Raised Over £20 Million For The NHS

However, as more and more people came across his incredible story, donations flooded in and he has now smashed his original target.

Captain Tom was interviewed by the BBC yesterday (16 April) after completing the challenge, which he started on 6 April.

Thanking everyone who had donated for their support, he said: "It's a lovely morning and I feel fine. I've been in the army, we're used to getting up early!

"It started off as a family joke, but I've been treated so well by the NHS - the service I've had has been absolutely marvellous. They've been kind, attentive... All the nurses and the doctors - and the backup people - they've done so well for me and for everyone at the moment.

"It's a fantastic sum of money. I would never have imagined that sum of money. It's unbelievable that people have been so kind. Maybe I was responsible for starting it, but not deliberately. It was purely out of gratitude for what they've done for me."

To mark both his charity work and his military record, a petition has now been set up to see Captain Tom awarded the prestigious title of knight.

Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan has also backed the idea and has even donated £10,000 to the his page.

He said: "It suddenly came to me - would it be nice to see Captain Tom Moore, who served his country in World War II, and has now raised over £4 million for the NHS in a week, wouldn't it be great to see him knighted for his services to the country?

"Wouldn't it be great if we didn't feel temptation to give it to business people who pay money for the honour, we didn't give it to celebrities for singing nice songs, but we give it to someone like him? That we make him Sir Tom?

"I think that would be great. Let's give him something back."

These thoughts have since been echoed by people online who have been touched by Captain Tom's story.

One person wrote: "Tom Moore - Yorkshire grit. Make that man a knight before he is 100."

A second demanded: "Captain Tom Moore. A nations hero. Knight this man."

England captain Harry Kane also shared his support for Captain Tom, writing: "What an inspiration @captaintommoore is to the whole country! Incredible effort by an amazing man to raise money for our NHS workers who are doing heroic work."

While Ant and Dec heaped praise on him, adding: "We take our hats off tonight to this great man. Congratulations on your amazing achievement @captaintommoore. We are united in our admiration and appreciation. Thank you."