Ipswich Mayor to launch annual Poppy Appeal this Saturday

Why it matters: The Poppy Appeal raises crucial funds to support serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, ensuring they can access the help they need.

The big picture: The Poppy Appeal launch marks the start of Ipswich's Remembrance period, which includes:

• Remembrance Sunday service on 10 November at the Cenotaph in Christchurch Park.

• Armistice Day commemorations on 11 November at the Fields of Honour in the Old Cemetery and the Cenotaph.

Key details: The Mayor will officially start the local campaign, encouraging residents to support the cause, and volunteers will begin distributing poppies for donations across Ipswich.

• Launch date: Saturday, 26 October

• Location: Outside Ipswich Town Hall

• Host: Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Elango Elavalakan

How to get involved:

• Buy and wear a poppy to show your support

• Donate online at www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/poppy-appeal

• Volunteer to help with poppy distribution (contact local Royal British Legion branch)

What they're saying: Mayor Elango Elavalakan said, "We hope Ipswich residents will join us by attending Remembrance Day events, supporting the Poppy Appeal, and observing the two-minute silence."

Why poppies?: The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance after the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, which described poppies growing on battlefields during World War I. Wearing a poppy is a personal choice. If you choose to wear one, it's typically displayed on the left lapel from late October until Remembrance Sunday.

The bottom line: The Poppy Appeal offers people a way to support those who have served and continue to serve in the armed forces while honouring the memory of the fallen.