1,000 collectors to target 60 Tube stations on single day of fundraising
On 3rd November a Royal Navy warship will be supporting an army of collectors as they take up posts at Tube and railway stations in the capital in a bid to raise a staggering £500,000 for London Poppy Day – it’s most ambitious target yet.
The third London Poppy Day, part of The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, will see up to 1,000 people – students, City workers, current and former Service personnel – stand shoulder to shoulder with those who serve as they collect donations from the millions of commuters who pass through the capital every day.
Benjamin Hancock, who co-ordinates London Poppy Day on behalf of The Royal British Legion, says: “Raising more than £40,000 an hour for 12 hours in a single city may sound ambitious, but last year we set a target of £150,000 and ended up collecting £225,000. This year we’ve set the bar even higher and are determined to hit the half a million pound mark.”
Fundraising efforts on 3rd November will be spurred on by the following activity:
- The Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Mersey will dock at Canary Wharf two days before the appeal, with all its sailors joining the Canary Wharf collecting team - Six bands will play in central London locations including the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas in Canary Wharf, the Central Band of the RAF in Covent Garden and the Royal Artillery Band will play in Leadenhall Market. The RN Volunteer Band HMS Collingwood will play in Paternoster Square and the Pipes and Drums of the Highland Gunners will be at Euston - British collectors will be supported by US Navy personnel who will collect at Bond Street and Marble Arch - Every train coming into Euston and Marylebone stations will have tannoy announcements alerting passengers to London Poppy Day - Transport for London Commissioner Peter Hendy is donating his very own Routemaster bus at a central London location between 9 and 10am to help with the fundraising - TfL is also allowing every collector in uniform to travel for free on public transport on 3rd November - Barclays will support London Poppy day by donating £1 for every journey made on Barclays Cycle Hire on 3rd November. Poppy stickers will be on display on selected bikes available in central London - Specially knitted Poppies will be available at all stations for one day only for donations of over £20
Covering 60 Tube and railway stations, collectors will be at their posts during the morning rush hour between 7am and 9am, over lunchtime, and during the evening rush hour (5pm - 7pm).
The money raised 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.
Russell Thompson OBE, the Director of National Events and Fundraising said: “The 2011 Poppy Appeal is about standing shoulder to shoulder with our brave Armed Forces. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our fundraising efforts so it is fantastic to see so many people get behind London Poppy Day. Their support to help our injured Armed Forces to recover and to regain their confidence through The Royal British Legion Battle Back Centre for sports and adventure training.”
