Blesma AGM reaffirms commitment to members

The Blesma Annual General Meeting 2016 provided a chance to celebrate the inspiring work of Members, volunteers and staff and report that the charity was in a strong position.

Delegates and guests at the meeting, held at the RAF Club, in Piccadilly, London, heard chief executive Barry Le Grys present the Trustees’ Annual and Strategic Report and introduce a series of speakers who defined Blesma’s commitment to the future.

Decorated former Parachute Regiment Captain Martin Hewitt gave an uplifting presentation about his Adaptive Grand Slam project to climb the seven tallest peaks on the seven continents and reach both poles.

With the support of Blesma, he is in charge of a team of disabled adventurers taking on an extreme physical challenge as a way of showing that goals can be reached despite debilitating injury.

The meeting also heard from Professor Anthony Bull, director of the Centre for Blast Injury Studies, at Imperial College, London, about the progress his multi-disciplinary team was making on research into injury.

Its detailed work is helping devise safer systems and hardware to minimize the impact of explosive blasts for frontline troops.

Alison Treadgold, Head of Armed Forces’ Health NHS England, also reported on activities across the health service that, with Blesma’s strong input, had lifted service provision for many members.

Blesma was also grateful for generous donations from two best-selling authors at the AGM. Former RAF Flt Lt John Nichol raised £500 from a reunion of UK and US Gulf War PoWs to mark the conflict’s 25^th anniversary and Ray Harwood, a Blesma supporter, donated the royalties from his successful Sardana novel series.

Lady Jane the Baroness Willoughby de Eresby daughter of The Earl of Ancaster presented her father’s memorial award to Brian Hogg for his tireless work with the Blesma skibob team which has been the gateway for many members to find their physical independence and confidence.

“It was good to reflect on a successful year and hear from a broad spectrum of speakers about the hope for the future,” said Chairman, Lieutenant General Sir Cedric Delves. “Blesma is committed to doing everything it can towards helping our members live full and independent lives.

“But we know there are always challenges ahead and we have to continue to work hard to face them.”

The Trustees’ Annual and Strategic Report 2015 was accepted unanimously as the board reiterated its commitment to work for Members through life.