Hartlepool Teen’s Poppy Push Raises Over £1,100 for Royal British Legion
During lockdown, 12-year-old Harry Fletcher from Hartlepool turned boredom into charity gold. To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Harry began handcrafting poppies back in May. When the remembrance parade was cancelled, he didn’t let the moment fade—he sold each poppy for £1 to support the Royal British Legion.
From £20 Goal to Over £1,100 Raised
Originally aiming for just £20, Harry smashed his target, raising £1,137 via JustGiving, with an extra £302 in cash donations for the local Hartlepool Legion. “I struggled in the first lockdown,” Harry revealed. “When my mum told me we couldn’t do the remembrance parade with my Cubs, I said we should sell poppies to raise money for the British Legion.”
Handmade to High-Speed: The Poppy Printing Hack
Harry loved making the poppies but when orders flooded in, he needed a plan to speed things up. He came up with the clever idea to print them, keeping up with demand while spreading the spirit of remembrance far and wide.
“I said to my mum, they will make people happy in these sad times. It makes me feel very happy that the money raised will help a lot of people who used to be in the Army,” Harry said.
Community Cheers Harry’s Heartfelt Effort
Harry’s family safely delivered poppies to neighbours before lockdown tightened. Dad Stephen beamed with pride: “It made us feel very proud that he wanted to help other people. Seeing the poppies in windows around the neighbourhood shows that in times of need, we all come together.”
The generosity hasn’t been local only—donations came in from as far as Florida and California. “We were overwhelmed with the support of the community,” Stephen added.
Harry’s lockdown project proves even the smallest gestures can make a massive difference. A young lad with a big heart, reminding us all what VE Day is really about.
