# Poppy Appeal launches with focus on 'Afghan generation' of troops

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/10/28/poppy-appeal-launches-focus-039afghan-generation039-troops/
- Published: 2010-10-28T22:16:31+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Royal British Legion today launched its 90th annual Poppy appeal, with an 
emphasis on its support for the wounded and bereaved of the British Armed Forces
serving in Afghanistan.**

The appeal was launched at Colchester Garrison in Essex with a private concert by
The Saturdays exclusively for the families and personnel of 16 Air Assault Brigade,
which is currently on serving in Afghanistan.

Rochelle Wiseman, one of the Essex-born members of the group, said: “It’s humbling
to be asked to help launch this year’s Poppy Appeal. We will do anything we can 
do to support the Poppy Appeal and our brave Armed Forces and their families”.

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 [⌊The Saturdays at 2010 Poppy Appeal launch⌉](https://www.flickr.com/photos/howardlake/albums/72157625135464601/)

Last year’s appeal raised a record £35 million, and this year’s target is £36 million.

The [Royal British Legion](http://www.britishlegion.org.uk) spends more than £1.4
million a week in its work helping 160,000 members of the ‘Armed Forces Family’ 
each year.
Russell Thompson, the Legion’s Director of National Events and Fundraising,
said: “We call on the nation to give generously and to wear their poppies with pride”.

_[Video at iPadio.com no longer available as it was published in the deprecated 
Flash]._

The Saturdays’ concert was preceded by a display of wingsuit flight by Jump 4 Heroes,
The Royal British Legion’s Extreme Human Flight Team. Team Captain Major Alastair
Macartney said: “As serving soldiers, we know all too well how important the Poppy
Appeal is for the support of today’s Armed Forces and we are very proud to be part
of it.”

Colchester Garrison will be the location of one of four Personnel Recovery Centres
that the Legion will be operating in partnership with the British Army.

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   7 November 2011)
 * **[Royal British Legion uses social media thunderclap for online remembrance](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/11/13/royal-british-legion-uses-social-media-thunderclap-online-remembrance/)**(
   13 November 2012)
 * **[Showing support for the Poppy Appeal on a grand scale](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/10/30/showing-support-poppy-appeal-grand-scale/)**(
   30 October 2014)