Players from Greenock Morton Football Club took time away from the training field to volunteer for the Scottish Poppy Appeal today (Tuesday, 5 November). Club captain Jim McAlister and top scorer Bob McHugh were part of a group of 12 who manned poppy collections in the town’s Morrisons and Tesco supermarkets and at the Oak Mall Shopping Centre, helping to raise vital funds for Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity.
Poppyscotland, the charity that runs the Scottish Poppy Appeal, relies on an army of 10,000 volunteer collectors across the country to deliver poppies and tins to shops, schools and businesses in their area. These volunteers also undertake collections in key locations throughout the two-week Appeal period.
Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and the charity’s year-round fundraising helps to provide support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance. The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite.
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Greenock Morton players for volunteering their time in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Volunteers are the lifeblood of Poppyscotland and the more collectors we have out on the streets at this time of year, the more money we can raise.
“Having the players collecting for a few hours this afternoon has given the Appeal in Greenock a huge boost, both in terms of the money they have collected but also the added interest it has generated. Involvement such as this puts Poppyscotland in a position to help even more members of the Armed Forces community in the year ahead, providing them with the life-changing support so many of them urgently need. Together with Greenock Morton we’re showing our Service personnel that we are behind them, always.”
Greenock Morton Chief Executive David MacKinnon added:
“In the many years I’ve been in football, I’ve always believed that the local football club, and its players, have a major influence in shaping local community engagement. At this time of year when we remember the fallen who gave their lives for our freedom, and the daily struggles those injured in Service endure, it’s important that we as a club give as much support as we can. If, by giving a small portion of our time, we are able to engage the Inverclyde community in supporting Poppyscotland, then we are honoured to do so.”
Notes to Editors
- For further information and all media enquiries, please contact David A. Findlay, PR Manager at Poppyscotland, on 079797 35611, or email at d.findlay@poppyscotland.org.uk.
- Pictures are free to us. Where appropriate, please credit: M Owens/Poppyscotland.
- Poppyscotland provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community. Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and Poppyscotland’s year-round fundraising enables them to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance. The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite. Please note that we are known as “Poppyscotland”, and not “PoppyScotland” or “Poppy Scotland”. For more information, please visit us at: www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
