Poppy Appeal breaks record
01 March 2010
The 2009 Poppy Appeal total has broken all previous records, while a single £1.8 million donation was made towards the care of Armed Forces personnel - past, present and their families.
The previous record of £30.8 million set by the Poppy Appeal in 2008 was broken as the tally reached £31.5 million today.
The number of poppies distributed also rose to 42 million, up two million on 2008.
"Proceeds from the Poppy Appeal are still being counted, so the final tally will not be known for some time yet," said Russell Thompson, the Legion's Director of National Events and Fundraising. "But we're now will into record-setting territory."
"I'm delighted that the nation's beloved Poppy Appeal continues to go so well," said Mr Thompson. "It's a testament to the care and concern that the British public shows for our Armed Forces community, which is needed now more than ever."
Meanwhile, Coventry Building Society's Sales and Marketing Director Colin Franklin donated £1,770,991 from its Poppy range of savings accounts to the Legion at a ceremony at Haig House, the Legion's national headquarters in London.
Russell Thompson and Colin Franklin at the presentation
On presenting the donation, Coventry Building Society's Colin Franklin said, "Our Poppy range has proved incredibly successful since we introduced the first Poppy Bond in 2008. The work of The Royal British Legion is highly valued by our members and it is their support that has led to this record-breaking donation."
Mr Thompson said the funds will help the Legion assist 160,000 beneficiaries this year, a growing number of whom are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. The donation will also assist in the financing of four new Personnel Recovery Centres.
The Legion announced recently that it was spending £20 million to operate a series of Personnel Recovery Centres in partnership with the British Army to help the sick, injured and wounded from contemporary conflict.
For further information contact on the Poppy Appeal, please contact Liam Maguire, Press Officer, T: 020 3207 2242 M: 07769 968 858 E: lmaguire@britishlegion.org.uk
Coventry Building Society is the third largest building society in the UK with assets exceeding £17.4 billion. More information on the latest Poppy Bond offering is available here.
