Captain Tom Moore, the World War II veteran who walked into the hearts of a nation in lockdown as he shuffled up and down his garden to raise money for health care workers, died this month after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 100.

鈥淭he last year of our father鈥檚 life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he鈥檇 only ever dreamed of,鈥� his family said in a statement. 鈥淲hilst he鈥檇 been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.鈥�

Captain Tom, as he became known in newspaper headlines and TV interviews, set out to raise 1,000 pounds (US$1,400) for Britain鈥檚 National Health Service by walking 100 laps of his backyard. But his quest went viral and caught the imagination of millions stuck at home during the first wave of the pandemic. Donations poured in from across Britain and as far away as the United States and Japan, raising some 33 million pounds.

For three weeks in April, fans were greeted with daily videos of Captain Tom, stooped with age, doggedly pushing his walker in the garden. But it was his sunny attitude during a dark moment that inspired people to look beyond illness and loss.

鈥淧lease always remember, tomorrow will be a good day,鈥� Moore said in an interview during his walk, uttering the words that became his trademark.

When Captain Tom finished his 100th lap on April 16, a military honor guard lined the path. The celebration continued on his birthday a few days later, when two World War II-era fighter planes flew overhead in tribute. Moore, a plaid blanket over his shoulders, pumped a fist as they roared past.

In July, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in a socially distanced ceremony at Windsor Castle, west of London. The 94-year-old monarch used an impossibly long sword to confer the honor as Moore, wearing his wartime medals on his chest, leaned on his walker, beamed and became Sir Tom.

鈥淚 have been overwhelmed by the many honors I have received over the past weeks, but there is simply nothing that can compare to this,鈥� he tweeted after the ceremony. 鈥淚 am overwhelmed with pride and joy.鈥�

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 鈥淗er Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year. Her thoughts, and those of the Royal Family, are with them, recognizing the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world.鈥�

Flags were lowered at Prime Minister Boris Johnson鈥檚 Downing Street office. The British leader described Moore as a 鈥渉ero in the truest sense of the word.鈥�

Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on April 30, 1920, Moore completed an apprenticeship in civil engineering before being drafted into the army during the early months of World War II. After being selected for officer training, he rose to the rank of captain while serving in India, Myanmar and Sumatra.

After leaving the army in 1946, Moore went to work for the family construction firm. After that failed, he became a salesman and later a manager for building materials companies. When the concrete company he was working for was threatened with closure, Moore rounded up a group of investors and bought it, preserving 60 jobs.

Along the way, he divorced his first wife and fell in love with his employer鈥檚 office manager, Pamela. The couple married, had two daughters and eventually retired to Spain, but returned to England after Pamela Moore became ill.

After his wife died in 2006, Moore moved to the village of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire to live with his younger daughter, Hannah, and her family.

The former motorcycle racer slowed down at age 98 after he fell and broke his hip in 2018. A walker replaced his Skoda Yeti, but he kept moving.

During a backyard barbecue in early April of last year, Moore鈥檚 family challenged him to walk the entire length of the 25-meter driveway. After he made it to the end, his son-in-law encouraged him to keep going, offering to pay 1 pound for every lap and suggesting a goal of 100 laps by Moore鈥檚 100th birthday.

The challenge snowballed from there.

Moore thought he might be able to raise 1,000 pounds for the doctors and nurses who took care of him after he broke his hip, and his family used social media to publicize 鈥淐aptain Tom Moore鈥檚 100th birthday walk for the NHS.鈥� A local radio reporter called first, then national broadcasters. Soon, international media were waiting outside the garden gate.

As he pushed his walker up and down the garden鈥檚 path, people facing the UK鈥檚 first lockdown of the pandemic watched online. Soon, #TomorrowWillBeAGoodDay was trending on Twitter.

鈥淧eople told me that there was something about my little walk that captured the hearts of those still in shock at the crisis,鈥� Moore wrote in his autobiography. 鈥淲ith a rising number of deaths and the prospect of months of lockdown, everyone was desperate for good news. Apparently, a 99-year-old former Army captain who鈥檇 fought in Myanmar, was recovering from a broken hip, and doing his bit for the NHS was just what they needed.鈥�

Prince Harry, Prime Minister Johnson and dozens of celebrities cheered for him.

But it was the public that embraced Captain Tom, flooding the village post office with some 6,000 gifts and 140,000 birthday cards. Moore marveled that anyone would spend 2 pounds on a card for him and then put on a mask to wait in line at a post office to mail it.

He was made an honorary member of the England cricket team, had a train named after him, and was recognized with the Freedom of the City of London award.

Moore enjoyed the accolades but remained focused on others.

He dedicated his autobiography, 鈥淭omorrow Will Be A Good Day,鈥� to 鈥渁ll those who serve on the front line of any battle 鈥� be it military, psychological or medical.鈥�

In the end, Captain Tom urged the public to look after one another, and he thanked the country he inspired for inspiring him.

鈥淚 felt a little frustrated and disappointed after I broke my hip and it knocked my confidence,鈥� he said after completing his trek. 鈥淗owever, the past three weeks have put a spring back in my step. I have renewed purpose and have thoroughly enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure, but I can鈥檛 keep walking forever.鈥�