Region’s fundraisers donated £2.5m during Poppy Appeal

Figures released yesterday, April 16, show generous East Midlands folk have dug deep to help The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal break the £2million mark for the fourth year in a row.
East Midlands' people raised £2.5m during the 2013 Poppy Appeal.East Midlands' people raised £2.5m during the 2013 Poppy Appeal.
East Midlands' people raised £2.5m during the 2013 Poppy Appeal.

Since the 2013 Poppy Appeal launched last October, people in the East Midlands have donated more than £2.5million to date, which will help the Legion continue to provide direct welfare support and advice to the Armed Forces community. In Derbyshire, £650,000 has been donated so far, and the money keeps coming in with five months to go until the appeal year ends in September.

Claire Rowcliffe, Interim Head of Regional Fundraising at the Legion, is amazed by the support of people across the region. She said: “We are thrilled at the generosity of the people in the East Midlands. It’s a great achievement to say we have broken the £2million target for the last four years and even more poignant this year as we commemorate 100 years since Britain entered the First World War.

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“Every penny raised will make a huge difference to Service personnel, veterans and their families, from helping a young widow through an inquest to representing injured Servicemen in their appeals for compensation. We helped nearly 3,000 beneficiaries in the East Midlands last year alone, so it’s vital we keep raising money to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.”

The Legion’s welfare programme runs year round and the charity spends £1.6million a week in direct welfare support. A number of fundraising initiatives run outside of the Poppy Appeal including Honour walks and bike rides, challenge events and Poppy Picnics.

The Legion has launched a new Freephone number so if you need advice please call 0808 802 8080. For more information on the charity visit www.britishlegion.org.uk.