Yesterday, 13 very brave members of The Royal British Legion kick started the 2013 Poppy Appeal on the Costa Blanca, by taking part in a sponsored Zip Wire at Terra Natura Wildlife Park in Benidorm.Forty members from across two branches - Benidorm and La Val dÁlbaida were invited to a guided tour of the park before the select volunteers embarked on the feat!

 

Branch chairmans, Pamela Dawson Tasker and Tim Greensides accompanied the group but left it to the more adventurous members to launch themselves off the platform, covering a 400 metre stretch and attaining speeds of 50 km per hour over the elephant plain solely suspended from a harness... Im with Pam and Tim on that one! Im afraid that no amount of coercing, bribery or chocolate would convince me to try, so hats off to them all. 

 

The idea of the sponsored Zip Wire came from Steve Mulqueeny, the Poppy Appeal organiser for La Val dÁlbaida but was enthusiastically embraced by members of the Benidorm branch. Between them all, they have managed to raise an incredible amount of money to go towards the Poppy appeal - the La Val dÁlbaida branch have amassed 1240 euros and the Benidorm branch just under 1000 euros... they are still counting up their sponsorships. 

 

After the adventures in the park the group headed off to Levi´s Showboat for a delicious lunch and much needed drink... I certainly needed one and I was only watching!

 

With the truly shocking murder of a serving member of the armed forces by radical extremists in South London on Wednesday, the country and all British citizens are united in supporting our troops - and will no doubt strengthen the pride we take when we wear our poppies this year.
RIP Lee Rigby....

 

The official launch of the 2013 Poppy Appeal in Benidorm will take place on the 16th October with a fantastic ceremony planned, to include a march with pipes and drum band along the sea front and has been enthusiastically embraced by both the Mayor, Agustin Navarro and British Consulate - should be quite a sight!

 

Tim Greensides & Pamela Dawson Tasker

 

The Zip Wire is open to the public and costs 5 euros. Tickets can be purchased inside the park.... no age limits but you must weigh under 100kg - which is ap 15.7 stone.