The Poppy Appeal was aiming to raise a record £43 million in UK this year. To help reach that target, over 150,000 volunteers were out on the streets, markets and in shopping centres across the UK and many European countries including here in Spain.
Although local branches have been busy raising funds for those ‘needy’ ex-servicemen and their dependants since the beginning of the year, their activities have increased dramatically in recent weeks as they set out on their final fundraising ‘efforts’ of the year with the ‘Poppy Appeal’ here in District Spain (North).
In Spain the members from 30 branches, 12 on the Costa del Sol, and the remainder from the areas that make up Spain District North, predominantly the Costa Blanca, Calida and Almeria, have also been busy during recent weeks, collecting your thousands of donations.
With poppies and collection boxes distributed to over 550 bars, restaurants and other locations across the region, the three local branches mobilised their ‘armies’ of volunteers, in Mid-October. They were active at Alicante airport, as well as pounding the streets at local markets, many supermarkets and shops, and dozens of other venues and collection outlets.
Last year the Branches in La Marina/Gran Alacant, Torrevieja and the Orihuela Costa, raised over 73,000 euro, an amount which they will be hoping to surpass when totals are tallied up in the coming days.
Although the appeal was launched by District Chairman Don Cubbon and the mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Pérez, rather later than is usually the case, boxes had been out and about some days earlier.
On the Orihuela Costa the appeal was boosted by the presence of two Chelsea Pensioners, Wayne Campbell and Skippy Teasdale, who were collecting at La Zenia Boulevard and in the Plaza at Villamartin. Neither of the two venues have been used for some years but the amounts collected in both locations suggest that they will, in future, be added to the annual list.
In some branches many of the poppy collection tins are still to be emptied and the monies counted, so the final figure for the District will not be released for some time, however the major Orihuela Costa and District count took place yesterday, Sunday’ at the Olympia Restaurant in Mil Palmeras.
When speaking to the Leader, local appeal organiser Eddie Coleman seemed in buoyant mood. “We have done most of the counting but we still have the banking to do. I hope, nevertheless, that we will have the final figure in time for our Annual General meeting this coming Thursday,” he said.
“Our volunteers have been amazing and I know they will all be at the meeting on Thursday for the announcement. We raised just over 40,000 euro last year so anywhere close to that amount will be an excellent achievement. Watch this space!”
Spain District North has 19 Branches and all of them arrange regular and varied social events, as well providing support to our beneficiaries. Local Branches meet in Gran Alacant, Torrevieja and on the Orihuela Costa. New members are always welcome and you do not need to have an Armed Forces background to enjoy all the Branch has to offer.
Locations and details of all the Branches can be found on the website: www.britishlegion.org. uk/counties/spain-north.
For support and information, please email: assistance.rbl.dns@gmail.com or call 676 451 780.
