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Blesma News

Latest news from Blesma, The Limbless Veterans

 

  • How Blesma is helping Ukraine’s limbless veterans

    How Blesma is helping Ukraine’s limbless veterans
    15 March 2024

    SEVERAL BLESMA MEMBERS HAVE SPENT TIME WITH WOUNDED UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS TO OFFER SUPPORT AND ADVICE ON REHAB AND COMING TO TERMS WITH LIMB LOSS. THE CONVERSATIONS WERE RECORDED AND TURNED INTO POWERFUL SHORT FILMS. Blesma Members have given their time to share their stories of resilience and rehab with Ukrainian soldiers coping with battlefield limb loss and injury. Members Mark Ormrod MBE and Stephan van Niekerk were linked up with two Ukrainian soldiers to share experiences and advice about their journeys after s

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  • Ryan Thomas served in the Royal Navy when his aorta ruptured, causing a life-changing stroke

    Ryan
    11 March 2024

    RYAN THOMAS WAS A SURGEON LIEUTENANT COMMANDER IN THE ROYAL NAVY WHEN HIS AORTA RUPTURED CAUSING A LIFE-CHANGING STROKE. HIS WIFE, LIZ, LEFT HER CAREER TO STEER THEIR YOUNG FAMILY THROUGH WHATEVER CAME NEXT. Fast, cool and wow!” Ryan Thomas’ face lights up with a smile as he recalls the sweeping runs of La Plagne and the challenge of improving his sit-ski technique. “The food and hotel were great, too. It was all so good.” Ryan has aphasia so his speech is not fluent, but the joy that radiates from him as he talks is obvious. He has recently

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  • Half Marathon and Marriage on the horizon for Blesma Member Russ Kirby

    Russ Kirby
    14 February 2024

    Blesma Member RUSS KIRBY IS PUTTING IN THE MILES to raise funds for Blesma and to get in shape for his wedding this summer. The former Royal Navy man is running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April and is getting married to Sarah Deans, a former member of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, in June. “I wanted to do something for Blesma, but I also need to get myself fit for the big day,” said Russ, 62, who served on HMS Antrim before a motorbike accident cut his military career short when he was just 20 years old.

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  • When James Hill was forced to leave the Forces he took his love of dogs with him

    Test
    2 February 2024

    WHEN JAMES HILL WAS TOLD HIS MILITARY CAREER WAS OVER HE ACCEPTED IT STRAIGHT AWAY. THE QUESTION WAS: WHAT WOULD HE DO NEXT? IT WAS DURING REHABILITATION AT HEADLEY COURT THAT HE HAD AN IDEA AND DECIDED TO JUMP IN AT THE DEEP END. For most injured veterans, Headley Court was a place where they began their long, and often difficult, rehab journeys. For James ‘Jimmy’ Hill, it was certainly that – but it was also the place that inspired a brilliant business idea. “I remember getting into the hydrotherapy pool for the first time at

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