On what would have been his 101st birthday, Stagecoach East announced that it is honouring the late Captain Sir Tom Moore through a series of staff fundraising challenges, to raise money for the Captain Tom Foundation.
The war veteran and national treasure passed away in February 2021 after raising almost £33m for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden. In his honour, Stagecoach East staff will be participating in various fundraising challenges, as part of the Captain Tom 100 Challenge initiative. Funds raised by staff will go to the Foundation, which works to combat loneliness, champion education and equality and support the NHS.
This spring, the Foundation will be focusing on mental health. Money raised through the Captain Tom 100 Challenge will go towards supporting the Foundation’s mental health charity partners The Mix, Young Minds and Place2Be, who work to support people’s mental health as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.
In Cambridge, Stagecoach East drivers Daniel Frantz-Morgans and Duncan Dunnett will be raising money by taking part in a charity pool match in the depot’s canteen and will battle it out to be the first to win 100 frames. The pair have already smashed their fundraising target, achieving over £500 of donations through their online fundraising page.
Stagecoach East has supported the Captain Tom Foundation since its inception in May 2020, and has raised over £11,000 for the charity. The firm also honoured the 100-year-old fundraiser with a dedicated Captain Tom Moore branded bus, which operates around Bedfordshire and features prominent adverts promoting the war veteran’s charity and a life-size picture of him inside.
Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, said: “Captain Sir Tom Moore was a true inspiration to us all and we are very proud to continue supporting his Foundation by taking part in the Captain Tom 100 Challenge at our depots in Peterborough, Cambridge and Bedford.
“This past year has reminded us of the value in showing perseverance, having a positive attitude in the face of a challenge and supporting those in need; everything Captain Sir Tom Moore stood for and demonstrated by walking those 100 laps of his garden.
“At Stagecoach East, we are committed to continuing our fundraising efforts and supporting Captain Sir Tom’s legacy through the Foundation’s work helping others in need. We are looking forward to seeing the interesting and fun challenges that our staff get up to to help raise money for this worthy cause.”
