Military Angels Sell Poppies on World Famous Number 11
Launching a new service on the world famous 11
National Express West Midlands are delighted to announce that , for one week only, Royal British Legion veterans and volunteers will be selling poppies for the first time ever on buses operating on Birmingham’s world famous Number 11 route.
The number 11 passes the QE II Hospital where injured returning service personnel are treated and provides transport to them and thousands of other patients through out the year.
The 2011 Poppy Appeal is about standing shoulder to shoulder with our brave Armed Forces. We need your support to help our injured Armed Forces to recover and to regain their confidence through The Royal British Legion Battle Back Centre for sports and adventurous training.
The Legion has committed £50 million over ten years to pay for the creation and operation of The Royal British Battle Back Centre, and to fund operating costs of the Personnel Recovery Centres, including four recovery centres in the UK and a facility in Germany. The Battle Back Centre will be a centre of excellence for adaptive sports and adventurous training, which will help Service personnel recover after their injuries, by focusing on what they can do rather than cannot do. More than £1.4 million a week or over £200,000 a day is spent by the Legion on its work helping over 160,000 members of the Armed Forces Family – serving, ex-Service and their dependants.
Mark Kipling, Area Operations Director, National Express West Midlands said:
“Thousands of people catch the number 11 every single day and we hope that they will join us in supporting the Royal British Legion and buy their poppies on board.”
“The number 11 is a big piece of the city’s history and we are proud to be joining forces with the Royal British Legion to honour those who risked and gave their lives defending our country.”
Russell Thompson OBE, Director of National Events and Fundraising at The Royal British Legion said:
"It is great that National Express has chosen to support The Royal British Legion by allowing the sale of poppies on the legendary Number 11 bus. This is a key service for our families and many of our servicemen and women who need to get to visit family and friends who are being treated here following injury in Afghanistan.”
“It is also very exciting for us that National Express are supporting us during this year's Poppy Appeal. In this, our 90th year, it is more important than ever that we recognise the commitment made by our military personnel."
The World Famous Number 11
The Number 11 launched in 1926, known to Birmingham residents as the Outer Circle is Europe’s longest local bus service covering a marathon 26 miles passing 19 shopping centres, six hospitals, over 40 pubs and 233 schools, colleges and universities.
The famous number 11 is recognisable to local residents by its distinctive green banners promoting the services 8 minute frequency
The Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion is the nation's leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk
Published 8th November 2011