The annual, Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion's major fundraising campaign and this year it aims to raise an uprecedented £27.5m.

Last year the appearl raised a record total of £26m and yet this only acounts for a third of the £75.5m required to carry out the Legion's work.

Much of the money goes to fund Poppy Support, the Royal Bristish Legion's range of welfare services set up to support those who have served and continue to serve in the Bristish Armed Forces.

The Royal Bristish Legion help people of all ages, providing financial, social and emptional help to all those who have been affected by conflict and it increasingly sees younger people asking for help. Beneficiaries range from children to widows, from single mothers to pensioners. Some 10.5 million people (one in six of the UK population) are eligible to approach the Royal British Legion for help.

The 2007 Poppy Appeal campaign highlights that there are 900,000 ex-service people with a disability, 80,000 ex-services people without visitors and 40,000 families who are in need of its support.

Please give generously this year. To find out more visit the website www.britishlegion.org.uk

Help support the Poppy Appeal