THE Royal British Legion Blandford and District Branch celebrated the Legion's 100-year anniversary and raised hundreds of pounds by stepping out for a charity walking challenge.

The Blandford Forum RBL branch hosted a Poppy Walk on Sunday, June 6 to raise money and awareness for the Legion.

The Poppy Walk challenged members and volunteers to collectively walk 100 circuits of the Mill Down Nature Reserve, north of Blandford.

Dorset Echo: The Blandford RBL branch rasied hundreds of pounds with their Poppy Walk. Picture: Terry ClarksonThe Blandford RBL branch rasied hundreds of pounds with their Poppy Walk. Picture: Terry Clarkson

The walk was originally planned for May, but due to poor weather conditions was rescheduled for June.

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Chairman of the branch, Terry Clarkson, said that a number of individuals and families were able to come to support the effort and the branch was able to raise nearly £500.

Dorset Echo: The RBL Blandford branch raised hundreds of pounds with their Poppy Walk. Picture: Terry ClarksonThe RBL Blandford branch raised hundreds of pounds with their Poppy Walk. Picture: Terry Clarkson

Each lap of the nature reserve is just under a mile and Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Blandford branch, Robert Taylor, created certificates to hand out to people who participated in the challenge.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the Poppy Walk was the first time the branch had been able to raise money together with a group activity since the start of the pandemic.

Mr Clarkson, said: "Everybody had a great time.

"It was a great team effort by some quite motivated people with one purpose, to support the Royal British Legion and what it stands for."

The RBL is active across the county with approximately 8,400 Legion members, with the RBL branch in Blandford being just one of 30 branches, which are supported by 15 RBL Clubs.

Dorset Echo: The RBL Blandford branch raised hundreds of pounds with their Poppy Walk. Picture: Terry ClarksonThe RBL Blandford branch raised hundreds of pounds with their Poppy Walk. Picture: Terry Clarkson

The charity was formed in the aftermath of the First World War to fight for the rights of those who had given so much and come back to so little. Today, the RBL continues to provide life-changing help and support to the Armed Forces community and challenge injustices on their behalf.

We at the Dorset Echo are appealing to our readers to donate to the RBL by visiting dorsetecho.co.uk/RBL or sending a cheque payable to Dorset Echo in an envelope clearly marked ‘RBL donation’ and mailing it to Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9XD.