Providing support to limbless and injured veterans for life
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight in the honourable service of our country.
Our Mission
To assist limbless veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is an Armed Forces charity dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limbloss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK.
Other ways to help
Celebrate your life with a gift to Blesma by remembering us in your will
Find out howFundraise for Blesma and your efforts will help the lives of our limbless veterans
See our fundraisersOur News
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The only all-amputee team to swim the English Channel repeats its success with record-breaking crossing
An intrepid group of veterans created history by becoming the only team of limbless swimmers to cross the English Channel twice. The former forces team, each missing a leg, completed their epic crossing just after midnight today (Thursday) after 14 hours and 40 minutes in nine-foot swells and swimming through a ‘wall of jellyfish’ on the daunting 25-mile route. The swimmers, all members of Blesma, the Limbless Veterans, set an astonishing record in 2014 when they swam in relay across the Channel to challenge attitudes towards disability and inspire injured people to become active. The team's fundraising page Four veterans made a history once more! “We were the first to do it and decided it would be a great idea to try it again but we are all 11 years older and two of us are over 60s, and it was a really tough crossing,” said Steve White, from Shotley, Suffolk, who is team leader and deputy chairman of Blesma’s board of trustees. “The conditions were warm and benign when we set off but we then encountered six foot swells for most of the crossing and periods when it was nine foot with 20mph gusts of wind and we really got pushed around. It was really challenging and during one of my swims I hit a wall of jellyfish for an hour, which wasn’t fun. We are exhausted but glad we got it done. We wanted to give it another go because it says something about living your life as amputees and doing things regardless of your age or condition. Stephen White “It was very tough and out of seven boats that set out at the same time with cross-Channel swimmers only three made it. We are exhausted but glad we got it done. We wanted to give it another go because it says something about living your life as amputees and doing things regardless of your age or condition.” The team – Steve, 60, from Shotley, Suffolk, Conrad Thorpe, 61 an ex Lt Colonel in the Royal Marines now based in Kenya, 57-year-old Craig Howorth, from Bacup, Lancashire, who served as a submariner in the Royal Navy, and Jamie Gillespie, 50 a former Royal Engineer from Hertfordshire – had originally planned the attempt for the 10th anniversary of their original crossing last year but had to be cancelled because of bad weather. The endeavor, sponsored by family-owned development, building and property maintenance company Wates Group and individual donors, is expected to raise around £15,000 for Blesma. Eoghan O’Lionaird, Chief Executive Officer of Wates Group, said: “The Blesma team have once again made history with their incredible achievement and I, along with everyone else at Wates, sincerely congratulate the team on their Channel swim success and continuing to redefine what’s possible - regardless of age or condition. "Many may have called it a day after the original swim was postponed due to bad weather last year. Their commitment and determination to complete the challenge has been truly inspirational and I’m thrilled they’ve now accomplished it. It’s an honour to have supported them and the work Blesma does in their mission to transform the lives of injured service personnel across the UK.” Vivienne Buck, Blesma’s chief executive, adds: “This is an incredible achievement and is both a testimony to their determination and hard work and to what can be achieved after injury and setbacks. “
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GB News viewers have helped Craig Wood hit his fundraising target of £50,000!
A triple amputee veteran’s record-breaking solo sail across the Pacific Ocean has provided a massive boost to fellow injured soldiers. Craig Wood, who covered 7,506 nautical miles from Mexico to Japan in his non-stop, unsupported voyage, has seen his fund-raising soar after being interviewed on GB News’ Breakfast programme by presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello. The 33-year-old former rifleman told how the charities Blesma, the Limbless Veterans and Turn to Starboard, gave him hope for the future after he lost both legs and his left hand in a IED explosion in Afghanistan when he was 18-years-old. Craig, from Doncaster, revealed how the charities ‘supported me in my darkest hours and helped me find hope’ and set him on course for the epic record of becoming the first triple amputee to sail the Pacific. His interview, detailing his 90-days at sea coping with isolation, stormy seas, equipment failure, including breaking his prosthetic arm leaving him one-handed, captivated viewers who pushed his fund-raising to beyond £54,000. “He is an incredible man and an inspiration to us all,” said Ellie Costello, who thanked GB Breakfast viewers for their generosity . “This is a worthy cause and let’s s see how far we can take it.” Craig, who lives on his 41 foot catamaran with wife Renata and their three children for most of the year, wanted to showcase the capabilities of people with injuries and to raise funds for the charities that helped make it possible. He said: “Hopefully, this voyage will show anyone facing a challenging set back in life, that through perseverance you have the ability to achieve anything you put your mind to.” Tony Bloomfield, Operations Director at Blesma, which was formed after World War 1 and specialises in supporting injured veterans to live independent and fulfilling lives, added: “Craig has tackled an immense challenge and demonstrated what is possible. It is a unique achievement and we are proud to have played a part in his journey. “His success will make a difference in terms of changing perceptions and for the funds that will go to help other veterans become independent. A huge thank you to GB Breakfast for featuring Craig’s record and to its viewers for responding with such generosity.”
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How Assistive Technology is Transforming Limbless Veterans’ Lives
A major report, funded by the Office of Veterans' Affairs and delivered by Blesma in association with Anglia Ruskin University, has identified a range of measures to improve the accessibility, affordability, and usability of Assistive Technology (AT), such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, and mobility scooters. The study, which was powered by the lived experience testimony of Members, highlighted how AT can empower veterans and their families to live independently but also exposed systemic barriers that limit access. Its recommendations, covering issues from veterans’ acceptance of the need to use ATs to the sales approaches of private companies, will influence future policies from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, which funded the research. The report – titled Assistive Technology – Powered Mobility Devices: An Exploration of the Lived Experience of Powered Mobility Devices in Armed Forces Veterans with Limb Loss and Loss of Use of Limb – also establishes a decision-making guide to help veterans select and fund the right equipment for their needs. The initial and associated maintenance costs of ATs was a common theme among the 26 veterans who provided first-hand evidence of their quests for greater independence and well-being. Many reported that suppliers focused on sales over truly understanding their specific needs. “There was a strong feeling that the suppliers tend to be sales people first and do not really take into account a veteran’s needs so we have developed a matrix within the report so a veteran can use it to work out what sort of AT would work using an informative tool to help guide their purchase rather than being at the mercy of a sales approach,” says Dr Thomas Kersey, Research Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University’s Veterans & Families Institute for Military Social Research, who led the project. One of the goals of the research is to help people get the equipment and technology that works for them empowering individuals to make informed decisions. Dr Thomas Kersey The report is illuminated with insights from Blesma Members whose open and honest testimony of their experiences helped shine a light on fault lines in AT provision and underscore the physical and psychological benefit from accessing the right equipment. “Their input was vital. You need the human elements of their stories to understand how fundamental this sort of equipment is to their everyday lives,” adds Dr Kersey. “One of the Members said she was getting a gyroscopic wheelchair that could be used hands-free, which meant she could walk down the street holding her son’s hand. It is such a powerful image and statement. "A disability really changes the dynamics of family life but the right AT can re-address that balance by allowing people to do things on their own and move from being someone who is being cared for back to family life." The report states: “ATs, and the independence they provide, also had a direct impact on family life. because they brought a re-balance to the roles within the family, contributing to the daily running of the home and reducing the care demands, allowing family members to step out of the care role. “However, uptake of ATs was nuanced and several barriers to accepting ATs into everyday life were identified. Initial reluctance to take up ATs were sometimes viewed as an admission of giving up. Pride and stubbornness factored into participants accepting help, alongside their own pre-conceived notions of what it means to be disabled. Participants reflected that in hindsight they would accept the help if offered again as it would preserve and maintain their health for longer had they accepted ATs into their lives earlier.” Its recommendations include tailoring AT provision on an individual level considering the long-term impact on wellbeing and independence, establishing an ethical code of conduct for the AT industry, expanding funding and financial support for ATs, improving transportation and storage solutions and recycling and reuse opportunities. This report is going to be useful to so many people, not just those that need ATs, but those that provide them Brian Chenier, Blesma Support Officer Prosthetics “Funding for statutory provision is limited and getting the best outcomes with such limited funding just makes sense. We hope that NHS providers will embrace the opportunity to look beyond the basic provision and consider the benefits ATs can have.” He adds: “By shining a light on the benefits of ATs covered in this report, we would expect users to be more confident in the decisions they make, and that they are able to make those decisions much earlier. It will also be useful to charities like Blesma that are often asked to fund ATs that are not available through statutory funding/services. Helping us to understand the wider, more holistic positive impact our support can have is very important. "We are grateful to the OVA for funding this research and to our members that took part. This will make a positive impact, and we aim to share this report across statutory services and the charity sector." The OVA adds “Our veterans have shown extraordinary courage and made immense sacrifices in service to our country. We owe them our ongoing support long after they have hung up their uniform. “The 22 projects funded through the £5 million Veterans' Health Innovation Fund are helping to transform healthcare for those who have served the UK. Blesma's research into assistive technologies is an excellent example of why this work matters so much. Its research will help veterans and their carers to understand the most effective mobility aids for their specific needs, helping them regain independence. This is why we're investing in these projects - because our commitment to veterans doesn't end when they leave the Armed Forces. Office for Veterans' Affairs Read the full report
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Get Involved
Across the UK, thousands of people are doing their bit to help
Whether you want to organise a big fundraiser in a group, take part in a Charity Event, complete a Charity Challenge on your own, or get your company involved in raising money for our limbless veterans, then go to our fundraising pages where you will find all the information you need, as well as events you can be part of.
