Blesma Members Take on Ski Adventure in the French Alps

Thrill-seeking Blesma Members have hurtled down an Olympic bobsleigh course in an adrenaline-busting finale to the annual ski trip in the French Alps.

Fastened in securely and under expert guidance, eight intrepid daredevils experienced speeds of up to 50mph as they raced around the track’s stomach-churning bends.

The 16-strong party, led by Support Officer Pat Donnachie, had flown from London to Geneva and then travelled on by coach to La Plagne in France to enjoy a full week of winter activities in January.

Eight of us even tried out the bobsleigh course, and it is one of the scariest and most exhilarating things I have ever done!

Charmaine Healy, a Royal Signals veteran

Member Charmaine Healy, a Royal Signals veteran who was injured in Afghanistan in 2010, was on her second Blesma ski trip and had to shake off the rust on the beginners’ slopes at the start of the week.

“We were divided into small groups to meet our instructors and get issued with our skiing equipment and sit skis,” said Charmaine, who is an Invictus Games medallist. “After wrestling our prosthetics into ski boots, we headed to the slopes, and I soon realised that everything I had learned last year had flown out of my head!

“After a few runs, things started to come back to me, though, and I remembered just how physical skiing is, but I was loving it. We had lunch on the hotel veranda, where the views were amazing, and exchanged stories about how we were getting on.

“We had a great group, and we all had different levels of skiing experience, but that didn’t stop anyone from having a great time.”

Members made the most of the extensive skiing terrain and expert tuition on offer, and they also got to spend time away from the slopes exploring the town.

“It was great fun being in small groups and getting to try different ski runs,” added Charmaine, who also tried snowboarding for the first time on the trip.

“None of us wanted the week to be over. We learned so much from our instructors, and it was nice to see people making bonds and growing in confidence – and to see new Members get a taste of what Blesma is all about was a real highlight. Eight of us even tried out the bobsleigh course, and it is one of the scariest and most exhilarating things I have ever done! ”

“I’d like to thank the support staff and Activities Team who made it possible, along with our BSO Pat, who was always there to make sure everything ran smoothly. It was an amazing trip, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s thinking of giving it a go.”