The Riders Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBLR) celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and to recognise this significant event set themselves the Ten Year Million challenge. They did not quite meet their target but raised a very impressive total of just over £832,550.
Membership of the Branch spans across the three services and also includes members who have not served in the forces. They are all brought together by their enthusiasm for motorcycling and a willingness to support the aims and charitable efforts of the Royal British Legion.
This Christmas the Warwickshire branch of the RBLR is organising a Christmas Present Run in support of the Galanos House Care Home in Southam. Located on the Banbury Road on the edge of Southam, the care home is exclusive to ex-service personnel and their dependents. It is funded by the Royal British Legion and is the Legion’s only care home in the Midlands. There are sixty bedrooms and thirty specialist beds in a dedicated dementia unit and residents are cared for by experienced nurses and dedicated care assistants 24 hours a day.
The Christmas Present Run will take gifts to the residents of Galanos House and the RBLR has suggested that donations of toiletries such as shampoo, bath and shower gel, soap and shaving foam would benefit the residents the most. Donations make an enormous difference to the residents as the money saved on providing toiletries can be spent on improving the quality of their lives in other areas. I will be supporting the Christmas Present Run donating products myself and I am also inviting readers to bring their presents to my constituency office in Kenilworth for collection by the RBLR before Friday 19th December.
2014 has been an especially poignant year with the events commemorating the centenary of World War One and the 70th anniversary of the D Day landings. The work of the Royal British Legion supporting the armed forces community carries on throughout the year and I would encourage you to dig deep and offer your support this Christmas.