Darts champ Trina swaps the oche for the poppy in fundraising appearance

Tour of Lady Haig factory in Edinburgh and charity exhibition matches help to boost this year’s appeal

Ten-time world darts champion Trina Gulliver MBE took on all comers as she toured Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh.

Trina, who hails from Warwickshire, was in Scotland at the weekend as part of a six-strong team of professionals taking part in two charity exhibition events to help raise money for Poppyscotland.

She said: “Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory is a fascinating and unique place and I was enthralled by the work being done by the veterans.

“Like me, it must be good hand-eye co-ordination to make so many millions of poppies.”

On Saturday, Trina was joined by stars of the oche Darryl Fitton, Tony O’shea, Gary Robson, Deta Hedman and former world champion Andy ‘The Viking’ Fordham at an exhibition event in Ardrossan.

Afurthereventwasheldinbathgate on Sunday in a bid to raise close to £10,000 to help fund Poppyscotland’s life-changing support to the armed forces community in Scotland.

Poppyscotland’s head of fundraising, Gordon Michie, said: “Last year’s event in Bathgate was brilliant and raised vital funds for the charity.

“So, to have not one, but two events in 2017 highlights how much people love their darts and how they are prepared to go the extra mile to support Poppyscotland.

“I would like to thank everyone who attended the exhibitions along with thesixtopnamesthatweretheretoo.”

Trina, 47, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2013 for “services to darts and fundraising”.

She captained the England Ladies Team from 2003-14, racking up 55 wins and earning 63 England caps. Her walk-on music is You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s largest annual street collection.

More than five million poppies and 60,000 collecting tins have been distributed around Scotland. Poppyscotland relies on a network of 450 volunteer area organisers and around 10,000 volunteer collectors who ensure that every corner of the country has their poppies in time for the appeal.

The theme of this year’s Poppy Appeal is #Extramile. Poppyscotland is encouraging supporters to go the Extramile in their fundraising.

0 Trina Gulliver visited the factory