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Veterans and families will benefit from BAE Systems charity deal
Veterans and servicemen will benefit from more charity cash thanks to a new partnership between the Royal British Legion and one of the area's biggest employers.
Staff at BAE Systems in Portsmouth voted the Royal British Legion their charity partner, meaning fundraising events will benefit the legion for two years.
Veterans and supporters met at the Broad Oak BAE site in Airport Services Road to see the raising of the legion standard.
Allen Parton, the Gulf War veteran who suffered severe brain injuries and was helped by the legion, said it was a major breakthrough.
He said: 'This is a massive boost for us because we haven't had a corporate sponsor in Hampshire before.
'There are so many people in need of support with so many aspects of their lives and this will help them directly.'
BAE chose to support the charity largely thanks to Sue Harman, who handed over nearly 1,500 herself this year.
The personal assistant who works in business development sold hundreds of poppy badge pins during last year's November appeal.
Mrs Harman said: 'I thought they would be popular because for men in particular they stay on people's clothes better than normal poppies.
'BAE has strong connections with the services and maybe that's why it's been chosen.'
The Legion said the Aldershot and Portsmouth areas were the main targets for funding, because of the army and navy concentrations.
Bill Bates, Hampshire's legion chairman, said: 'The past 12 bloody months of conflict have increased the need for our help both today and for years to come.'
Louise Purcell, community fundraiser for the Portsmouth area, added: 'To fund our work we desperately need opportunities like this, to raise money all year round and not just during the Poppy Appeal.'
Dawn Coates, from BAE systems, who is heading the partnership said: 'We are really looking forward to working with the Royal British Legion over the next two years and as the Broad Oak staff are very generous with their time and money we are hoping for a very successful campaign.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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