Support Our Boys

‘Our Boys’, as coined by the tabloids (for both men and women!), are deployed the world over defending our interests. Some are returning with truly dreadful life changing injuries.

British soldiers are having to cope such with ever more sophisticated threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices (home made road side bombs). Soldiers wounded in this way are regularly returning with injuries to their limbs that are requiring extensive and ground breaking treatment but they may never walk unaided again or be able to use a hand.

Blesma supports our troops

BLESMA is the injured servicemen charity created to support our troops who lose limbs, the use of limbs or eyes or the sight of an eye in the service of our country.

We support our soldiers in all that they do for the rest of their lives and we are there for them when their injuries come back to haunt. 

Afghanistan casualties 

Casualties in Afghanistan are, thanks to modern field medicine and technology, treated better than ever before thus many lives are saved.

But this means that the flow of wounded soldiers returning to the UK is increasing all the time. Most casualties from Afghanistan have been taken to the excellent Selly Oak Hospital Birmingham renowned across Europe for its teratment of severe trauma - (soon to be replaced by the brand new Queen Elizabeth Hospital which has just been completed next door to it). When well on the road to recovery they move to the renowned Defence Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey for more long term treatment such as artificial limb fitting and training.

See Captain Kate Philp’s amazing treatment at Headley Court (first movie on our home page)

Supporting our boys – for life 

It is important for British troops in Afghanistan to know that they have the support infrastructure behind them for medical treatment, aftercare and for any future support they may need.

BLESMA is part of the process and we meet new amputees at Selly Oak and at Headley Court and we also meet the family - it is the start of a lifelong and very special relationship. The work we do starts with rehabilitation – it is important to prove that there is life after amputation. And by giving limbless soldiers opportunities to sail the Atlantic, row around Britain, jump from an aeroplane and ski down a mountain – we try our very hardest to get our boys fully enthused with what the future holds. For so long as there are British soldiers in Afghanistan, or anywhere else in the world in harm's way, BLESMA will be there for them if disabling injury occurs.

Meet our amputee Members

Read the stories of our Members, meet those who need our support

• Matt Wollard, wounded soldier – Afghanistan
• Kevin Woodford, wounded soldier – Falklands
• Jerome Church, wounded soldier – N Ireland
• Joe Davies, wounded soldier – WWII
• Adam 'Goolie' Ball – wounded soldier – Afghanistan

Amputee helping amputee

The fellowship of shared experience

BLESMA of course does not only look after amputee soldiers, we also care for limbless sailors and limbless airmen. Our work with injured servicemen and women is about amputee helping amputee - the fellowship of shared experience. Our work is about life long welfare support, about campaigning for what wounded soldiers deserve.

Our youngest amputee Member is 19 and our oldest is 99 - truly we are BLESMA for Life.

See our rehabilitation with Corporal Tom Neathway (second movie on our home page)

So, if you would like to support our troops we would appreciate your help.

• Click here to receive further information about wounded soldiers
• Click here to vote how informative this injured servicemen site is
• Click here to donate to BLESMA