Poppy sales benefit veterans and Richmond Hospital

With Remembrance Day just around the corner, there is still time to make a donation and purchase a poppy.

The annual Poppy Fund is ongoing, and are available at 200 locations across Richmond, including the Patient Information Desk at Richmond Hospital.

As one of Richmond Hospital Foundation’s longstanding donors, the Richmond Poppy Fund has benefited the many veterans, other patients and their families by helping to purchase urgently needed medical equipment. For example, the Poppy Fund has recently helped to fund a new surgical microscope for ear, nose and throat surgeons at Richmond Hospital.

“I know at any given time there are likely 20 veterans in the hospital. They live in this community—Richmond Hospital is their hospital,” Carol O’Dell, chairperson of the Richmond Poppy Fund. “I see the veterans and the hardships they go through.We go that extra mile to make sure they get what they need.”

The poppy is an emblem throughout the Commonwealth that commemorates Remembrance Day and honours members of the armed forces who have fallen in the line of duty. Each year, the Richmond Poppy Fund fundraising drive takes place with assistance from the Army, Navy and Air Force Cadets between the latter part of October and November 11, Remembrance Day.

“We look forward to a successful campaign,” O’Dell says. “Please give as much as you can because this goes to help another individual who doesn’t have the funds. If everybody donates, then we can do our work. That’s so important.”

Poppies are available from Richmond Hospital’s Patient Information Desk until 11 a.m. on Friday, November 11.