London Poppy Day, the largest one-day street collection of its kind, is underway with a record 2,000 collectors taking part. Volunteers, including uniformed personnel from the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force, as well as veterans and supporters, have hit the streets hoping to raise £1m in a single day for The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
With this year’s Poppy Appeal marking the centenary of the end of the First World War, The Legion is aiming to raise its highest ever total of £50 million to support the Armed Forces community past and present.
Collections are taking place at 56 tube stations and railway stations across the city alongside performances by military bands at fourteen stations. The voices of much loved Londoners Jo Brand, Shane Richie and Lesley Joseph are being heard on public address systems across the tube network encouraging Londoners to join in with the spirit of the day and to give generously. Also helping with the collections during the day will be the Actor and Singer Alfie Boe, the TV Presenter and Explorer Levison Wood and contestants from The X-Factor.
Magician Lance Corporal Richard Jones “It’s been fantastic to see so many Londoners come out and show their support for London Poppy Day today. We’re hoping to raise a record breaking £1 million pounds across the capital, which will help the Legion provide life changing support to our Armed Forces Community. It’s not every day you see serving personnel out of on the streets of London, so it’s been a real honour to take part and give people the chance to say thank you to our Armed Forces.”
London Poppy Day was founded in 2006 by a group of young veterans working in the City, whose aim was to remind people that veterans of all ages and backgrounds are living in the capital and to help change their perceptions of what a veteran is.
Claire Rowcliffe, Director of Fundraising for The Royal British Legion, added; “We are so grateful to our teams of volunteers and members of the Armed Forces who have come out in force to help us raise money for this year’s Poppy Appeal in the capital. In this Centenary year, the work of the Legion is as relevant and vital today as it was in the aftermath of the First World War when the charity was founded. The donation for your poppy will help the Legion support today’s Armed Forces community through hardships, injury and bereavements. Generations of the Armed Forces have continued to serve and sacrifice since the First World War, and we recognise and thank them all for their contribution.”
Notes to Editors:
For more information, visit www.britishlegion.org.uk/londonpoppyday.
The Royal British Legion’s work is encapsulated in its motto: Live On – to the memory of the fallen and the future of the living. The Legion is the nation’s biggest Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is the national custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is well known for the annual Poppy Appeal, and its emblem the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk
Facts and Stats
- The Poppy Appeal target for 2018 is £50million – our biggest target ever
- Last year the Poppy Appeal raised £46.6million
- During the Poppy Appeal over 40million poppies will be distributed by 100,000 volunteers
For further information please contact Charlene Guy, PR Officer, The Royal British Legion on CGuy@britishlegion.org.uk , 0203 053 7184/ 07458124853
