ONE HUNDRED LAPS
“What
is a hero without love for mankind.”
Doris
Lessing
Frankly,
I wasn’t feeling motivated at all to write, today. The last thing I wanted to
write was one more gloomy post. I have been extremely sad and angry, last few
days, on seeing how heartless some of us could be – even during times like these…
ignorance, hatred, poison!
Just as I was
feeling hopeless, came this very, very inspiring story from England… The story
of Captain Tom Moore, a veteran war-hero, who served in Burma and India during
the World War 2… And, what a story that was!
I thank my
friend Reshma, who lives in London, for reigniting hope in my soul, by sending
this story, just a while ago…
The story of Captain
Tom Moore – which, as his family says, is no longer their story, but a ‘global
story’ - goes like this…
Some weeks ago,
the war veteran made a small private resolve… that, before completing his
100th birthday by this April end, he would complete 100 laps, with
his walker, around his back garden. He, also, resolved, that, alongside, he would,
raise one thousand pounds in charity for NHS (National Health Service), which had
been fighting a deadlier battle than the one his battalion had fought during World
War 2.
Yes, as I said,
the story was an ordinary, private story. But, Destiny had other plans… Within
the first twenty-four hours, the word-of-mouth had helped raise more than seventy
thousand pounds! Then, there was no stopping… When, my friend Reshma, sent the
story, a while ago, reportedly some 18-million pounds had been raised from people
across the globe… Captain’s story, as his family said, by now, had become a
global story… A legend!
Imagine what a private
individual – that, too, one on the eve of his 100th birthday – can do
in times like these! Imagine the positivity… Imagine the love, hope and resolve!
It’s enough to
make us hang our heads in shame!
Well, the story
is not yet over... April is still not over, and money has still not stopped
pouring in. I think, in the end, the story will be remembered not for the millions
of pounds that Captain Tom Moore was able to raise for National Health Service,
but for the ‘lion's heart’ that he has been blessed with…
A true warrior
and a true ‘Decorated Officer’, who walked a hundred laps before his 100th
birthday, deserves a hundred gun-salutes…
O Captain… My Captain!
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: inews.co.uk
Videos: 1. The Telegraph 2. Sky News 3. ITV News
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