The Royal British Legion’s Oxfordshire Poppy Appeal in 2016/2017 raised an incredible total of £604,963.75 thanks to the generous support of those within the county.
During the past year the Oxfordshire fundraising team have marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, as well as launching the start of last year’s Poppy Appeal with the presentation of the first poppy to Vice Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire via a remote-controlled Cutlass robot at Vauxhall Barracks.
During the start of the 2016 appeal organisers and volunteers were hopeful in raising a total of £575,000 to support veterans, currently serving and their families across the Armed Forces community. Mark Garwood, Community Fundraiser for the area said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed with the support we received in delivering the Appeal in Oxfordshire during the past year – from people volunteering, collecting and providing logistical support.
“To raise over £600,000 is an amazing achievement and we couldn’t have done this without the sheer determination of the all of the people involved to make this such a success.”
Community Fundraising Manager, Jenny Sheriff, said: “To raise more than £600,000 has exceeded our expectations and we would like to say a big thank you to all involved and to those who donated their time to collect across the local area, as well as individuals who gave money towards the Legion’s crucial work.”
The Royal British Legion received over 450,000 calls for help last year. The money raised from the Poppy Appeal goes towards the Legion’s work with current Serving personnel, veterans and their families, including innovative dementia care, theatre recovery projects, world-leading research on blast injury studies, and Legion owned seaside break centres.
Mark added: “Most people are familiar with the poppy are a symbol of Remembrance, but its original meaning was also one of hope for the future. Hope to live on in more positive and independent lives after going through tough times, and it is hope the Legion provides to those in the Armed Forces community. Every donation received will make a real difference to the lives of Service men and women, veterans and their loved ones and the money raised from the Leek Appeal will go a long way to helping those in need.”
The fundraising from Oxfordshire will go towards the Legion’s national target of £41 million to continue its vital work delivering practical, through life care and support to the Armed Forces community.
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