By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 16:54, Wednesday, 17 October 2012

A group of bikers are preparing to ride out to launch this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Riders arrive in Carlisle last year

It runs for two weeks from Saturday, October 27 and aims to raise £42 million nationally.

Riders will tour Cumbria on October 27 and 28 to raise awareness of the importance of the appeal. The route will be different to previous years – the west coast will be visited on the Saturday and the Eden Valley and Lakes on the Sunday.

Up to 50 members of the British Legion Riders Branch will be stopping off at various centres.

At each point, arrangements are being made for VIPs and local celebrities to greet the riders on their way thorough.

This year’s ride will begin its tour at 9am on October 27 at the Coronation Hall in Ulverston and follow a route via Millom (9.45am), Whitehaven (11am), Workington (midday), Wigton (1.30pm) with an expected arrival in Carlisle City Centre at 2.45pm.

The riders will depart Rockcliffe on the Sunday at 9am and visit Penrith (9.45am), Appleby (10.45am), Sedbergh (12.15), Kirkby Lonsdale (Devil’s Bridge 1.30pm) expecting to arrive at Bowness on Windermere at 2.45pm.

At each location the public will greet the riders and to sign up to help the Poppy Appeal.

A spokesman for the Poppy Appeal said: “The 2012 Poppy Appeal is all about the Armed Forces and their families – they’re pinning their hopes on you.

We need to raise £42m – £2m more than last year’s record amount to carry out our vital work.

“The Poppy Appeal makes it possible for the Legion to help Armed Forces families with £1.7m every week in direct welfare support – that's £90m each year, answering more than 165,000 calls for help.”

First published at 16:34, Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk