PRIDE and gratitude have inspired the people of the Orihuela Costa to honour war heroes like never before as once again the local Branch of the Royal British Legion has exceeded all expectations with yet another outstanding collection during it’s recent Poppy Appeal collections.
At it’s monthly meeting last Thursday evening, Vice Chairman and Branch Poppy Coordinator Eddie Coleman, who was the driving force behind the 2015 Appeal, announced the record breaking amount of 35,506 euros, an increase of over 4,000 on the sum collected last year.
In making the announcement Coleman singled out the marvellous contribution of local golf societies which had contributed a staggering 7,000 euros via the Poppy Golf Tournaments held during the course of the year by Mick and Dee Reeves.
He also thanked the local bars and restaurants that administer the eight book trolleys across the region, responsible for contributing a further 4,000 euro to the appeal. He also thanked the many dozens of members who had willingly assisted in putting all the poppy boxes together who had distributed them to over 200 locations across the region and who had helped with the count at the end of November.
Of the other major contributions Diana Wiltshire and her team brought in 2,800 euro with their collections at Iceland, San Javier, while the collections at Alicante Airport benefitted the appeal by a further 3,600 euro. There were also sizeable donations from the Remembrance Day Concert organised by Nigel Hopkins and the VE Day and the Playa Flamenca Fun Days both held in May, which raised over 2,000 euro.
The funds will be used to provide support and welfare to veterans and their families living in Spain. This can include vital medical equipment, hearing aids, wheelchairs, glasses, mobility scooters, food or anything else required for their immediate support. The amount raised by the Orihuela Costa Branch will go a long way toward funding much of those requirements.
Contact details of all the Branches in District North (Spain) are available on the website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/spain-north. For welfare enquiries please ring 676 451 780 with all other queries to 648 860 251
