How the Poppy Appeal helped us

But how many of us actually stop to think what the poppy really means – and how wearing it makes a real difference to military familes across the region?

Injured soldiers battling back after suffering horrific injuries and families left behind after tragedies in action are among those who today pay tribute to the work of the Poppy Appeal and the Royal British Legion.

Sports stars and personalities have joined them to urge people to pin on their poppies to help with the crucial work.

One of those to herald the work of the Poppy Appeal has been hero soldier Sapper Clive Smith, from Cannock.

He lost both his legs in a roadside explosion while serving in Afghanistan three years ago.

The keen Wolves fan lived out a dream by getting to walk out onto the Molineux pitch on Saturday for the game against Stevenage.

He strode out using his artificial limbs to the cheers of almost 18,000 fans who paid respect to his personal battle.

The former Chase High School student took his first tour of Afghanistan in 2008 and it was on his return that he decided to become a bomb disposal expert.

He returned to duty in the war-torn country in early October 2010 with the 33 Engineer Regiment and it was just a few days later he lost his legs in the bomb blast on October 13.

Spr Smith was helped by the Royal British Legion which organised for him to spend part of his rehabilition at the Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall.

The centre, which helps the recovery of wounded, injured and sick service personnel, gave him the chance to learn new sports skills to aid his rehabilition.

Now he has become one of the faces of the national Poppy Appeal and told his own story to inspire others to dig deep.

"It's humbling to know the centre has been created because of the public's generous support of the Legion, and the Poppy Appeal in particular," he said.

"Without it, the Legion would not be able to help guys like me, as well as people who have left the services and their families."

He added: "The ongoing support I've received from Battle Back Centre staff and others over the course of my recovery has been invaluable.

"Taking part in activities like wheelchair basketball, rock climbing and bowling was great fun and really encouraged me to focus on what I could do as opposed to what I couldn't do after injury. This positive outlook has really helped in all parts of my life."

The 28-year-old is looking to the future and has his sights on life after the army. He said: "For me it's all about learning new skills to find another career to help me through the transition back into civilian life."

The fiancee of a Kidderminster soldier killed in action also lends her support to this year's Poppy Appeal after the Royal British Legion helped her and the couple's young daughter cope in the wake of the tragedy.

Emma-Jayne Webster said she was lost when their future together was 'gone in seconds' after L/Cpl Richard Brandon died in a bomb blast during in Afghanistan.

The 24-year-old, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, died in September 2009.

He was killed in a roadside bomb blast during an essential resupply mission in Afghanistan.

Their daughter Kaitlin, was just three at the time, and Emma had spoken with Richard just six hours before he died.

The couple and their families had enjoyed a Legion-funded Poppy Break in Brean, near Weston-Super-Mare, before he left for Afghanistan. It was to be the last trip they would take together.

In the months following Richard's death, the Royal British Legion provided financial advice and support to Emma and her family.

Miss Webster, now aged 31, said she greatly values the help she received from the organisation.

"The impact was immense. When you've been with someone a long time, even a short time, you have plans for the future, you have plans what you plan doing, like for instance, watching his daughter grow up, watching her get older," she said.

"He was killed days before she started her first day at nursery.

"It's as if everything you've planned for the future can be gone in seconds. My mind was all over the place after losing Richard and the Legion helped me to cover all the bases."

Emma appeared in the Legion's 2010 Poppy Appeal poster campaign and TV adverts with the couple's daughter Kaitlin, who at the time was four-years old. Daughter Kaitlin who is now seven years old will feature in the Legion's 2013 Poppy Appeal poster campaign.

Emma added: "I have been given a lot of guidance through the Legion's services and they helped me to access the support I was entitled to."

Emma has since remarried and has a seven month old baby. She lives in Kidderminster with her husband and their baby daughter, Kaitlin, and sons from a previous relationship, Martyn and Liam.

Dudley Zoo has also championed the Poppy Appeal by asking keepers to wear poppies throughout the charity campaign and even getting the animals involved.

Zoo chief executive Peter Suddock said: "We are proud to support the unstinting work of the Royal British Legion and wear our poppies with pride."

The Royal British Legion director of fundraising, Charles Byrne, said: "We support the entire Armed Forces community past and present, but families are at the heart of the Poppy Appeal 2013.

"We recognise the strength of mothers, fathers, partners and kids in Armed Forces families, who serve alongside their loved ones every single day, and often need practical care and advice too.

"We're encouraging people to dig deep for the Poppy Appeal, so we can continue providing this vital support to individuals whether they're still serving, transitioning back to civilian life or have left the Services, but importantly to their dependents too."

More than 40 million poppies will be made and distributed for this year's Poppy Appeal across the UK and overseas by 350,000 dedicated collectors.

Every poppy helps the charity raise the £1.6 million needed each week to deliver practical help and advice to Armed Forces community.

The charity is aiming to reach its national fundraising target of £37 million by Armistice Day.