The fundraising drive to keep a Canadian veteran's Victoria Cross from being sold overseas has reached its target.

The campaign gained steam in mid-November, when it was learned that the medal, awarded to Cpl. Fred Topham for his heroics during the Second World War, would be sold to a British collector.

The collector had offered to pay $319,000 for the medal, but the family agreed to sell it to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association if it could raise $275,000.

Since then, Jan de Vries, who served with Topham in 1945, has been acting as chair of the Corporal Fred Topham VC Fundraising Project.

Topham, Toppy to his friends, was awarded the Victoria Cross for repeatedly risking his life rescuing wounded men under fire in 1945.

Even after being shot in the face, Topham pulled three men from a burning vehicle. He died in 1974.

De Vries says he's been touched by the response he's gotten not only from adults, but also from schoolchildren.

The campaign has raised $300,000 so far, and the pledges are still coming in. The extra funds will be used to expand the Canadian Airborne Forces Museum in Petawawa.