THIS year’s Worcestershire Poppy Appeal gets underway today.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) will issue a fund-raising rallying call at the launch, at the Guildhall, Worcester, from 11am. And fund-raisers have been challenged to raise £600,000 pounds towards a national target of £37 million, which helps veterans and their families. Alan Kelly, vice chairman of the Poppy Appeal in Worcestershire said: “Every donation received for a poppy will make a real difference to the lives of armed forces families so please keep in mind that every poppy helps.”

One person who has already shown extra dedication to the cause is Pat Richardson, of Worcester, who is on a mission to make more than 100 poppies out of red and green wool. Mrs Richardson decided to craft the flowers for Remembrance Day after seeing a notice at the Co-operative Funeralcare office, in St John’s, calling for donations of knitting needles for a Royal British Legion campaign. And she has roped in friends and volunteers to join her – and is on the lookout for more.

“We’re well on the way to doing 100 and it is such a great cause,” said the 74-year-old, who intends to hand the knitted poppies to the Co-op store to sell to raise money for the campaign.

“It’s for the Royal British Legion and people have been quite taken with them.

“I’m surprised at how many people thought they looked good. People have been really good at knitting them, and we have sold quite a few already.” Mrs Richardson has held knitting sessions at House of Fraser, Worcester, the Co-operative Funeralcare and at St John’s Library. It takes her just 15 minutes to knit the poppies.

She will be holding another knitting session at the Little Shop of Allsorts, in the Arcade, St John’s, between 11am and 3pm on Wednesday where she will be inviting people to join her in her feat to make 100 of the poppies to donate to the funeral home, For more information, contact Mrs Richardson by calling 07903 441603.