THE Poppy Girls are fronting a new campaign to encourage families and friends to send compilation CDs and playlists to loved ones deployed abroad over the festive period.
After captivating an audience of more than six million at the Festival of Remembrance, the group have launched a Christmas album, No Need To Say Goodbye, in aid of The Royal British Legion.
Charlotte Mellor (17), from Cambridge, said: “The support that the whole Armed Forces family has shown us with the single has been incredible.
“From the start, all we’ve wanted to do is raise as much money as possible for The Royal British Legion.
“It’s a charity that does so much behind the scenes for families like ours and this is another opportunity for us to give something back.”
The girls have pledged to send every British military unit deployed overseas a free copy of their album, which was released on 25 November and features songs that hold special significance between the serving parent and child.
Tracks include their own versions of I’ll Be There by The Jackson 5, Your Song by Elton John and Ho Hey by The Lumineers.
Charles Byrne, Director of Fundraising for The Royal British Legion, said: “These girls are incredible. They are an absolute credit to themselves, their families and the wider Armed Forces community.
“Not resting on their laurels, they have taken it upon themselves to continue fundraising for the Legion through their music. We are incredibly grateful.”
Ten-year-old Megan Adams, from Stirling, Scotland, was reunited with her father Lieutenant Commander Billy Adams MBE at the Festival of Remembrance after months of separation.
She explained: “My daddy is leaving again today and I won’t see him until after New Year, but he has promised we can celebrate Christmas twice; once with mummy and again when he gets back in January. So it’s not all bad.”