Poppy sellers raise money for stair lift installation

Poppy sellers in Lancashire are celebrating having raised nearly £15,000 for ex-servicemen and women, and have been rewarded for their efforts with the Silver Rose Bowl Trophy.

The money goes towards paying for stair lifts to be installed in the homes of ex-service people in need, which is the main motivation for the sellers. The chairman of the branch, Len Myerscough, who is an ex-serviceman himself, commented: “that’s why I do it”.

The Great Harwood branch of the Royal British Legion raised close to £15,000 between the years of 2010 and 2012 for the charity, which provides help and welfare to the country’s ex-service people. The volunteers received the special award for having sold the most poppies for the cause in the whole of Lancashire.

A cause worth fighting for

The money raised is vital in helping to support the country’s ex-service people and goes towards such worthy causes as home stair lift installation and helping ex-soldiers to live independently. The branch’s chairman, who is 81 and served in the Army during the Korean War, said in this article that this is a vital part of the work that the British Legion do, saying, “If anybody needs help, such as ex-soldiers who need a stair-lift, the money goes towards paying for that as well, and that’s why I do it”.

Such mobility aids can provide a lifeline for local ex-service people; it is hoped that Great Harwood will be able to continue to provide help and such aids as walk-in baths and showers for the elderly with the money raised, and achieve the accolade once more, having raised over £3,700 selling poppies last year.

Mysercough thanked the people of Great Harwood for their donations towards the Poppy Appeal, as it all go towards the ongoing aid and support that the charity provides to the country’s ex-service communities and their families.

Image Credit: Pete (flickr.com)