Blesma News
Latest news from Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
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New Research: Understanding how you use assisted technology in your everyday life
24 May 2023
Calling all Members and their families! Do you use a wheelchair, scooter or hand cycle? If so, we want to hear from you to inform a new piece of research. This Office for Veterans Affairs funded research project wants to find out from you about your everyday living experiences with assistive technologies. In particular, we want to understand the effectiveness of different assistive technologies used by veterans who are wheelchair/EVP-users. What will taking part involved? You are
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Congratulations to Blesma Member Hari Budha Magar on making history!
22 May 2023
The Gurkha veteran, who lost both of his legs in Afghanistan - has accomplished the impossible and made mountaineering history by reaching the top of Mount Everest! In doing so becoming the first double leg amputee to reach the top of the world. Hari embarked on this monumental climb on 17 April, marking precisely 13 years since he tragically lost his legs in an IED explosion during his service in Afghanistan. Battling freezing conditions and enduring an agonizing wait of 18 days at the Everest base camp for clear weather, Hari and his courageous team witnessed the
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Leaving Statement - Blesma Chief Executive
27 April 2023
I am writing to let you know that our Chief Executive, Jon Bryant, is leaving the Charity after just over three years in the role. As you are aware, Jon has helped steer Blesma through the Covid pandemic while strengthening a number of our policies and practices in support of our Members. He leaves the organisation in great shape, with an excellent reputation across the sector for knowing its Members personally, reinforcing the friendships between them, representing their interests and quickly providing expert advice and assistance. Whilst we are disappointed to see him leave the
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How Blesma has helped Michelle Murphy smile again after a horrific fall at her home
24 April 2023
Michelle Murphy is an an amputee, but Blesma hasn't helped her with a prosthetic or mobility aid. Instead, the association has sorted out her shoes and her smile. Having served in the Royal Signals for 22 years, Michelle Murphy lost her right leg in 2018 after an innocuous cut on her foot led to the flesh-eating disease Necrotising Fasciitis. She would have been forgiven for taking her time to come to terms with this ‘new normal’ but for the last two years, she has barely left her house after a horrific fall resulted in her breaking or losing almost every single one
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