Record Poppy Appeal total

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal

Caring cadets and officers from across Greater Manchester have raised over £155,000 for the Poppy Appeal, a 17per cent increase on the total for 2010.

A staggering total of £16,565.19 was raised from cadets across the Borough of Rochdale.

In Rochdale a total of £9,738.52 was raised. This was made up from £524.98 from Rochdale Sea Cadets (TS Frobisher II), £2,440.22 from the Army Cadet Force and £6,773.32 from the Air Training Corps.

In Heywood a total of £1,187.40 was raised. £351.23 came from the Army Cadet Force and £836.17 came from the Air Training Corps.

In Middleton a total of £5,639.27 was raised. This was made up from £5,068.32 from TS Tremadoc and £570.95 from the Army Cadet Force.

Each year young sea, army and air cadets and officers in Greater Manchester raise more than any other area in the country for the national Poppy Appeal.

Greater Manchester Community Fundraiser for The Royal British Legion, Kevin McGuire, said: “Once again our splendid cadets have worked tirelessly to raise this fantastic total and Greater Manchester has succeeded in raising more than any other county and district.

“Our cadets have done a tremendous amount of collecting and it is only right that they receive due recognition, especially when all too often young people receive a bad press.”

This year around 60 sea, army and air cadet units from Greater Manchester have contributed to final total.

More than £24,000 has also been raised by sixth form colleges and Army and Naval Officer Training Units at Manchester University.

The unit that has collected the most is Failsworth Air Training Corps who have raised £12,045.13, then Bolton Army Cadet Force who raised £9,806.07 and Oldham Sea Cadet Corps with £7,432.17.

The national Poppy Appeal total currently stands at more than £36million.

A prestigious ceremony will be held on Tuesday 6 March at University Barracks, Boundary Street, Manchester, when the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Colonel Warren J Smith JP will present awards to units and individuals in recognition of their fund-raising efforts.