Manchester aims to raise £45,000 for Poppy Day

British Legion Fundraisers

Service personnel will join forces with veterans and volunteers in an attempt to raise £45,000 in a single day for The Royal British Legion, during Manchester Poppy Day this Thursday.

It’s one of the biggest street cash collections of its kind in Europe and will see collectors hitting the train stations, streets and office blocks across the city to raise money for the Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

D-Day veteran George Simms, 95, will be collecting at Piccadilly Station from 1pm – 3pm alongside other staff and residents from Broughton House, Salford. George, a former Royal Marines Commando, landed on Sword Beach in Normandy on June 6th 1944.

There will be activity right across Manchester, with more than 50 uniformed collectors out on the streets and performances by military bands. This year, the Poppy Appeal is aiming to raise its highest ever total of £51 million.

Fundraising events will take place at several different locations, running simultaneously across the day from 7am until 7pm, in a bid to raise funds that help ensure the unique contribution of our veterans and their families is never forgotten.

As well as live music, there will be lots of fun and decoration in the city’s main railway stations, the Manchester Arndale and Intu Trafford Centre. The Poppy Bus will be busy touring the city, as well. 

Fundraisers will be located outside Old Trafford for up to three hours ahead of kick-off as Manchester United take on Partizan Belgrade on Thursday evening in their Europa League clash.

The Prince of Wales band will entertain commuters at Victoria Station and a choir will perform in St Peter’s Square (9.15am), where members of the Riders Branch of the Royal British Legion will also be stationed.

The people of Manchester can play their part by getting involved in the special activities, wearing a Royal British Legion poppy and giving generously.

The Legion’s Community Fundraising Manager Judith Reay said: “Manchester Poppy Day gets bigger and better each year. The support from the Manchester public is phenomenal – it’s always great to see so many people wearing their poppies with pride, knowing the money they donate will make a huge difference to the lives of so many people in our Armed Forces community.

“We are also making it easier than ever to donate to the Poppy Appeal this year by offering contactless donations at all of our collection points, or you can donate by text.”

To donate £3, text POPPY to 70020. Calls cost £3 plus standard network charges.

Locations:

Victoria Station 7am – 7pm

Piccadilly Station 7am – 7pm

Arndale Centre 9am – 6pm

St Peter’s Square 7am – 7pm

Trafford Centre 9am – 9pm

Manchester United FC 5pm – 8pm

Bus [Coop, Soapworks, Town Hall, KPMG] - 9am – 5pm

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