Chiltern Railways help Legion raise half a million pounds in 12 hours on today’s London Poppy Day
Date:03 Nov 2011 12:17
Chiltern Railways has thrown its weight behind The Royal British Legion’s third London Poppy Day.
An army of collectors took up posts at their railway stations including Marylebone station in a bid to raise a staggering £500,000 for London Poppy Day – its most ambitious target yet.
The money raised today will go towards the 2011 Poppy Appeal fundraising target of £40 million, which in turn will fund The Royal British Legion’s £50 million commitment towards the Battle Back Centre, a national centre of excellence for adaptive sports and adventurous training, and the operating costs of four Personnel Recovery Centres. These will help sick or injured Service personnel recover and either return to duty, or reskill and make a successful transition to civilian life.
This year alone the Legion will spend more than £72 million providing assistance to over 160,000 serving and ex-Serving Armed Forces personnel and their families. This equates to £200,000 a day or £1.4 million a week delivering vital welfare work.
Rob Brighouse, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways said: “We are delighted to be supporting London Poppy Day today and urge people to donate whatever they can to help support this worthwhile charity.”
Russell Thompson OBE, the Director of National Events and Fundraising added: “The 2011 Poppy Appeal is about standing shoulder to shoulder with our brave Armed Forces. Supporters are the lifeblood of our fundraising efforts so it is fantastic to see so many people get behind London Poppy Day.”
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Notes to Editors:
For more information on Chiltern Railways please contact:
Emma Gascoigne 020 7333 3014, press@chilternrailways.co.uk
On behalf of The Royal British Legion
Rebecca Williams 020 7758 3934 rebeccaw@launchgroup.co.uk
Gemma Young 020 7758 3909 gemmay@launchgroup.co.uk
Gemma Young 020 7758 3909 gemmay@launchgroup.co.uk
About the Legion:
The Royal British Legion is the nation's leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk
To sponsor the Remembrance Expedition, go to www.bmycharity.com/remembranceexpedition
