Information on Loughborough

University students break Poppy Appeal fundraising record

Posted on 12/02/2009

Loughborough University Website

University students break Poppy Appeal fundraising record

The university fundraising record for the most money collected in a single day for The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal has been broken by a group of students from Loughborough University.   The 123 students, who were collecting money in the London Metropolitan area during the 2008 Poppy Appeal, managed to bring in £25,982.06 smashing the previous record set by Nottingham University of around £17,000.   The students began their amazing feat at 6am and finished at 7pm on Friday 31 October, 2008.   They targeted 38 Tube stations in Zone 1 including Bond Street, Liverpool Street and Bank stations.   The student Poppy Appeal collectors were collecting approximately £2,000 an hour thanks to their hard work and the generosity of members of the public.   Elvira Soria, Regional Fundraiser for the Metropolitan Area, said: “This is an amazing achievement and I must sincerely thank the students from Loughborough University for their sterling fundraising efforts.   “To raise such a significant amount for the Poppy Appeal in just one day is truly remarkable.”   The student who raised the most money for the Poppy Appeal was Laura Hutchison, 18, from Rugby, who collected £1200.75.   Ms Hutchison, said: “It was really good fun collecting money for The Royal British Legion especially as so many young people serving in the Armed Forces are in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.   “All of us are very proud at the amount of money we have raised and we all hope we will be able to support the 2009 Poppy Appeal as well.”   During their stay in London, the students slept in sleeping bags in the City of London School for Boys based in Blackfriars.   Ms Hutchison added: “It was quite challenging to sleep in a school’s sports hall but we were well looked after and very keen to go out and support the Poppy Appeal.   “Service men and women in trouble spots around the world are from my generation so it’s only right we show our support by raising funds for the Legion.”   UK universities have been helping to raise money for the Legion’s Poppy Appeal for almost a decade.   The previous university Poppy Appeal fundraising record set by Nottingham University had remained un-broken for two years.