Days after becoming the oldest person to have a number one single in the UK, fundraising hero Captain Tom Moore has been awarded another accolade – his own WWE championship belt.
The wrestling giants presented the World War II veteran, who has raised more than £29 million for the NHS, with the honour ahead of his 100th birthday.
Current WWE champion Drew McIntyre, from Ayr, said the title belt would “celebrate the 100th birthday and extraordinary achievements” of Captain Tom.
As WWE Champion it is my honor, on behalf of @WWE, to celebrate the 100th birthday and extraordinary achievements of @CaptainTomMoore with a personalized WWE title. Happy birthday sir, and thank you. #WalkWithTom #CaptainTomMoore pic.twitter.com/UIRkTBpTnd
— Drew McIntyre (@DMcIntyreWWE) April 28, 2020
McIntyre told Metro.co.uk: “I am proud that WWE has created a WWE Championship title for Captain Tom Moore featuring personalised side plates to celebrate his 100th birthday and commemorate his achievements for the NHS.
“He is a true hero who stepped up when his country called in World War II, and who stepped up again today with the same selfless courage and determination to help others.”
Captain Tom’s fundrasing started with a challenge to raise £1,000 by walking 100 laps of his garden ahead of his milestone birthday.
His story captured the hearts of the nation and the world during the coronavirus pandemic, with his target broken in around 24 hours.
He reached number one on a recording of You’ll Never Walk Alone alongside Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care choir.
Royal Mail will honour his birthday, on April 30, with a special postmark.
He has also received over 125,000 birthday cards from around the world, as well as the special birthday present of his very own wrestling title belt.
WWE has presented similar honorary title belts to sporting champions, including Premier League side Manchester City and Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs.
Legendary star Triple H also presented a belt to PC Charlie Guenigault, who was injured trying to stop assailants during the London Bridge terror attack while off duty.
Triple H said: “People say a lot of times that they watch WWE because these guys are like real-life superheroes. Well, Charlie is a real hero.”
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