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.
Make An Impact
Request your free gift in Wills guide today
One in three of our limbless veterans are supported thanks to gifts in Wills. Leaving a gift in your Will is one of the most impactful ways you can support limbless and injured veterans long into the future.
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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"It's a good cause — and you never know!" RAF Veteran Wins £23,500 with Make a Smile Lottery While Supporting Blesma
Retired RAF veterans Michael and Clare were enjoying a well-earned break in Austria when they received an unexpected phone call: they had won £23,500 through the Make a Smile Lottery. Michael, 77, a retired Squadron Leader, and his wife Clare, 81, a former RAF officer, have played the Make a Smile Lottery for five years, after first coming across it at a campaign stand in their local supermarket. For two former RAF officers, supporting a charity for injured veterans felt like a natural choice. Michael also knew someone who had suffered badly from PTSD following service in Iraq — a reminder, he said, of why organisations like Blesma matter so much. "He still has a lot of mental and physical scars from service in Iraq," he shared. Michael and Clare’s own story began in Cyprus in 1971, while they were both serving in RAF logistics. Clare had just arrived on the island when she met Michael for the first time, the start of a partnership that would last a lifetime. RAF Veteran Wins £23,500 with Make a Smile Lottery While Supporting Blesma “When I arrived in Cyprus, the first person I met was him,” said Clare. “He met the aircraft as part of his job. Not quite love at first sight — but not far off.” Michael retired from the RAF as a Squadron Leader in 1985. Clare served on a short service commission for six years before leaving to become a full-time mother, later founding a gymnastics business for under-sixes. Together, they went on to spend twenty years running a model railway shop in the North Pennines. Now they live south, closer to their family, where Michael keeps busy with model railways, church bell ringing and orienteering. Their win came through the Make a Smile Lottery, which raises funds for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans and other charities across the UK. In 2025, more than £1 million from ticket sales went directly to its charity partners, supporting the vital work those organisations do year-round. As for the £23,500 prize, Michael and Clare have shared some of the money with their family. "We gave some money to each of our daughters," said Michael. "We're considering a new car, and the rest we'll put towards holidays or unexpected expenditure. We're not going to rush out and spend it all." Asked what he would say to others thinking about joining the lottery, Michael smiled: "It's a good cause — and you never know." To join the Make a Smile Lottery and support Blesma, visit Blesma, The Limbless Veterans - make a smile lottery You never know – your ticket could be next.
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Blesma awarded Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award
Blesma is incredibly proud to have been awarded the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award for 2026. The award recognises organisations that demonstrate strong support for the Armed Forces community, including veterans, Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and the spouses and partners of those serving. As a charity founded to support limbless and injured veterans, Blesma’s connection to the Armed Forces community is at the heart of who we are. The Employer Recognition Scheme forms part of the Armed Forces Covenant programme, which encourages organisations to support those who serve, those who have served, and their families. The Silver Award recognises employers that have taken meaningful steps to create a supportive and forces-friendly workplace. Blesma was one of 331 organisations nationally to receive the Silver Award in 2026, including 26 organisations from the Greater London area. Blesma has been awarded the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising its support for the Armed Forces community.
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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.
