The May Day bank holiday saw four members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Leicester area raise over £1000 for The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. The participants donned their running kit and took part in the annual Leicester Triathlon – a 400 metre swim, 20 kilometre cycle ride and 5 kilometre run. Each of them turned in an excellent performance and completed the course, securing the sponsorship of family, friends, colleagues and employers for the Poppy Appeal.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Giles Coleman, the Legion’s County Fundraiser (CFR) for Leicestershire came to take publicity photographs and wish the team well. He was delighted with the results and thanked the team, who were wearing running vests provided for them with the Poppy Appeal ‘Live On’ logo.
One of the team was the area Church leader, Stake President Paul Smith. Another participant, Jason Bailey, was given participant number 118. He turned in an overall time of 1:18 – one hour and eighteen minutes, and said he needs participant number 100 next year! His wife, Angela, received the compliments of a race marshall who commented, “she’s lovely – she smiled every time she passed by.” The fourth team member was Paul Parsons, the oldest of the four but keenest participant, with a finishing time similar to much younger rivals and bringing in the highest of the sponsorship totals.
Fundraising for the Poppy Appeal can take place at any time of year, not just during the two-week collection period in November. If you would like to race for the Poppy Appeal contact the Royal British Legion CRF for your county.