The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2013 will for the first time feature a Poppy Day on the streets of Birmingham.

While the Poppy Appeal runs from 26th October until Monday 11th November, the Royal British Legion and 143 (West Midlands) Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Gerhard Wheeler, are making 5th November the day everyone in Birmingham really thinks about the Poppy Appeal.

Five military bands plus soldiers, sailors, airmen, cadets, students and volunteers from business in Birmingham and the Midlands; on one day there will be an army of around 250 volunteers who will be collecting for the Poppy Appeal throughout the day. These will boost the regular volunteers and collectors who will continue to collect during the whole appeal period.

For twelve hours starting at 6.30am volunteers will be collecting at; New Street, Moor Street and Birmingham International stations and Birmingham Airport, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, National Express bus stations, the metro, on buses and at bus stops.  They will also be in the city centre, from Snow Hill station and Colmore Square through to Victoria Square and surrounding streets and businesses.

The army of volunteers, to the accompaniment of five military bands, will be on the commuter buses, collecting at the  railway stations, flying into Birmingham Airport and creating smiles at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. They will be making office calls and filling the business district with music, poppies and smiles.

The Poppy Appeal is the nation’s largest and most loved fundraising campaign in support of our armed forces and this year, the Royal British Legion is aiming to raise £37 million during the Appeal. Every poppy help to support armed forces and their families past and present by contributing towards the £1.6 million needed by the Legion each week to deliver direct, practical care and support to the service  community and to respond to over 170,000 calls a year for practical help, advice and support.