Poppy fund helps Gulf War veteran

Most people tend to think of the poppy appeal as fund raising for those injured in the world wars but the appeal helps so many of us that have served in more recent conflicts and their families.

I found my self faced with nearly a thousand pound repair bill on my nine year old power chair and the war pension does not stretch that far. I take Endal for his walks three times a day over the South downs and my old wheelchair kept breaking down and had become so unreliable and in fact on one occasion I was left stranded for a couple of hours till help arrived.
In desperation I contacted the British legion on the Monday and asked for help, on the very next day I was visited by the welfare representative, on the Wednesday I was being measured up by an Occupational therapist for a new power chair and on Thursday I was visited by the manual wheelchair fitter.

The speed at which the RBL have moved to get me back on the move is breathtaking and really does show that they very reactive to those in desperate need.

Every day in the press one reads of the casualties and fatalities being suffered by our servicemen and women. The effect on families and the injured can be catastrophic and the RBL through the poppy appeal can relieve so much suffering and hardship. Every penny that comes in to the poppy appeal makes such a real difference so please.... please support this year's appeal.

From my own personnel experience the public's support can make the difference to those struggling to survive to enable them to have a real a quality of life.

Allen (and Endal)

Left to right

TS Avenger cadet Ellie Green,Leading Stores Accountant (LSA) Ian Simpson Royal Navy, Allen Parton and Endal, Waitrose store manager Craig Lancaster, RBL welfare officer Jim Warwick, Operator Mechanic (OM) William Johnston Royal Navy and Cadet Chloe Meredith