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sculptor creating a bronze statue of Captain Sir Tom Moore is reaching the final stages of his creation as the UK prepares to celebrate what would have been the inspirational fundraiser’s 101st birthday.
Andrian Melka began work on a 2m (6ft 6in) clay statue of Sir Tom in February following the news of his death, and it is now almost ready to be cast in bronze and donated to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Mr Melka, of Bolton Percy in North Yorkshire hopes the sculpture will provide inspiration for staff, patients and visitors and remind them that “one step in front of the other will get you somewhere”.
Captain Sir Tom Moore statue / PA Wire
The statue portrays the 100-year-old fundraiser giving the thumbs-up as he completed 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire ahead of his milestone birthday last year. His amazing effort during the first lockdown raised £33million for the NHS.
The sculptor, whose work can be seen in the gardens of the royal residences of Sandringham and Highgrove, has used crowdfunding to cover the foundry costs involved in casting the statue in bronze.
He is preparing for the final stage of the process as the country prepares to take on the Captain Tom 100 challenge this weekend to celebrate what would have been the Second World War veteran’s 101st birthday.
Captain Sir Tom Moore statue / PA Wire
“Creating something this big out of clay was a huge challenge for me as I’m more used to sculpting statues in stone,” Mr Melka said.
“I was really inspired by Captain Tom, not only for raising so much money for the NHS but also in encouraging others to put one foot in front of the other and remain optimistic during challenging times.
“Creating this statue, and raising enough money to cast it in bronze, was my personal challenge to honour a remarkable man.”
Mr Melka has been working with Leeds Hospitals Charity to identify a suitable home for the finished statue.
Captain Sir Tom Moore statue / PA Wire
If the crowdfunding target is reached, it has been agreed it will be installed in a newly refurbished courtyard garden at Leeds Chapel Allerton Hospital for patients undergoing lengthy and intensive rehabilitation for long-term neurological conditions or following a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
Mr Melka said he hopes it will inspire patients on their road to recovery.
Captain Tom Moore – In pictures
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore, with his grand children Benji and Georgia, after he was awarded a prestigious Blue Peter Gold badge, the show’s highest accolade, in recognition of the war veteran’s remarkable NHS fundraising and for being ‘a beacon of hope’ during difficult times
PA
Captain Sir Tom Moore at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, on the publication day of his autobiography Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day
Joe Giddens / PA
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore finishes his charity walk
BBC
British Army Captain Tom Moore is pictured in uniform
via REUTERS
Bedford School pupil and Captain Tom’s grandson, Benjie Ingram-Moore, presented his grandfather with a photograph of the Great Hall filled with his 100th birthday cards for the first time this afternoon. Captain Tom was overwhelmed with emotion as he was presented with the photograph outside his home
Bedford School
Captain Tom Moore celebrating his 100th birthday by carrying the 2012 Olympic torch as he completes a lap of his garden
PA
Captain Tom Moore celebrating after reaching Number 1 in this week’s Official Singles Chart with his rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball and The NHS Voices Of Care Choir.
PA
99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia, at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, after he achieved his goal of 100 laps of his garden – raising more than 12 million pounds for the NHS
PA
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore finishes his charity walk
BBC
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore finishes his charity walk
BBC
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
Captain Tom Moore finishes his 100 laps of his garden
Jeremy Selwyn
Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old veteran, completing the 100th length of his garden. Captain Moore has raised over 12 million pounds for the NHS after receiving donations to his fundraising challenge from around the world
PA
British Army Captain Tom Moore poses with trophies on a motorcycle
via Reuters
Tom Moore with his daughters
Tom Moore is 99 and relies on a walking frame to get around, but that isn’t stopping the determined almost-centenarian from walking 2,500 metres, or 1.55 miles, by the end of April
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
British Army Captain Tom Moore
via Reuters
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, poses after he continued to raise money for health workers, by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday
Reuters
Screengrab from Veteran Tom Moore’s appearance on GMB
Good Morning Britain/ITV
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore at 99 years ols
Reuters
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore raises money for health workers by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday
Reuters
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore,
Reuters
An NHS staff member wipes her eyes as she holds a sign to thank British veteran Captain Tom Moore
AFP via Getty Images
Captain Tom Moore and his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore speaking via videolink at the opening of NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and Humber in North Yorkshire
Getty Images
Captain Tom Moore’s grandson Benjie, in the Great Hall of Bedford School, Bedfordshire, where over 120,000 birthday cards sent from around the world are being opened and displayed by staff
PA
Artist Sam Bailey puts the finishing touches to a mural acknowledging the work being done by the NHS, emergency services and the fundraising exploits of Captain Tom Moore, at her home in Northampton
PA
A general view of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Getty Images
A message inside one of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Getty Images
A general view of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Getty Images
Footage of Captain Tom Moore appearing on Blankety Blank
BBC
A mural that has been created to pay tribute to NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore outside Bradley Scott Windows in Tamworth, Staffordshire
PA
An hourly salute to Captain Tom the army veteran in Piccadilly Circus, London
PA
A general view of thousands of birthday cards sent to Captain Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on April 30th, are pictured displayed in the Hall of Bedford School, closed-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Getty Images
World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore, 99, posing with his two certificates after he broke the record for the most money raised by charity walk (individual) with his effort to raise over 27 million GBP for the NHS and at the age of 99 years 359 days became the oldest person to reach number one in the UK charts after teaming up with British singer Michael Ball to release a cover of ‘Youll never walk alone’
AFP via Getty Images
Bedford School pupil and Captain Tom’s grandson, Benjie Ingram-Moore, presented his grandfather with a photograph of the Great Hall filled with his 100th birthday cards for the first time this afternoon. Captain Tom was overwhelmed with emotion as he was presented with the photograph outside his home
Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate
via Reuters
The Yorkshire Regiment medal presented to Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate,
via Reuters
Colonel Tom Moore stood with Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller in front of all his medal and gifts.
UK Ministry of Defence 2020
Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate
via Reuters
Captain Tom Moore (right) being issued his Second World War Defence Medal by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Miller after as he was appointed an Honorary Colonel.
PA
Former British Army Officer Captain Tom Moore, appointed the first Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, shows a thumbs up in Bedford
via Reuters
Captain Tom Moore and his family
BBC
Captain Tom Moore and his family
BBC
A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passes over the home of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he celebrates his 100th birthday
PA
People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
Boris Johnson pays tribute with a Birthday greeting
@borisohnson
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday,
Reuters
A mural in support of Captain Tom Moore and the NHS is seen, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Belfast,
Reuters
A happy birthday message is displayed on the big screen in Piccadilly Circus for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday
Reuters
Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he watches a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday.
PA
Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore with his daughter Hannah, as they wave to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday
PA
Captain Tom Moore with his 100th Birthday cake
Captain Tom Moore with his 100th Birthday cake
Caption Tom Moore receiving his knighthood news
Caption Tom Moore receiving his knighthood news
Sir Tom said he was ‘delighted’ to receive the news that he will be knighted by the Queen
Benjie Ingram-Moore
The Queen awards Captain Sir Thomas Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle on 17 July
Getty Images
The seat on Sir Tom’s walking frame has been designed so that it faces forwards, allowing it to be used as a place for patients and staff to sit and rest.
Mr Melka’s fundraising page can be found at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/creating-a-bronze-statue-of-captain-sir-tom-moore