World War II Veteran To Walk 100 Miles For 100th Birthday

An American World War II veteran named Mickey Nelson was inspired by the world wide story of Captain Tom Moore, who celebrated his 100th birthday by raising money walking in London area backyard with his walker.

He told People, "I watched with fascination as the donations poured in to support Captain Moore’s 100 laps prior to his 100th birthday. I saw how the British healthcare system benefited from Captain Moore’s walking fundraiser and wondered if I could do the same here in the USA."

Nelson has decided to take on his own challenge by walking 100 miles for his 100th birthday — and donating the funds he raises to charity.

He says he initially set out to raise $5,000 for The Salvation Army, which would go towards helping families who were struggling to put food on the table amid the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, he has raised over $93,000 and has continued to walk towards 100 miles — something he hopes to accomplish by the end of summer.

Mickey said, "I walk in honor of or in memory of someone’s loved one most every day. That definitely inspires me."