West End play rounds off successful week for Blesma Members and supporters

As we look forward to the Bank Holiday and well-earned break here at Blesma Chadwell Heath, we reflect on what’s been a very successful week across a variety of events.

Last weekend saw 23 Team Blesma runners at the Virgin London Marathon. It was an excellent effort all-round with every team member completing the 26.2 mile course ably supported by friends, family and members of staff from Chadwell Heath. In the mix of runners were Members Glynn McNary, Stuart Pearson and Stuart Croxford. The day was a huge success with almost £40,000 being raised – and more still coming in!

Next up on the Fundraising agenda is the fast-approaching Blesma Week (06-12 June). Planning is in full swing and the call is out for volunteers to come and donate a few hours of their time to help collect donations at some major London train stations. If you or anyone you know may be interested, go to the ‘Support Us’ section of our website for more information or call the Fundraising team on 0208 590 1124. If you are not able to come to London but would like to be involved in Blesma Week by running your own event, please get in touch!

Mid-week, Member Simon Harmer travelled to Hackney in East London to give a presentation to a group of 13-14 year olds as part of the Blesma Community Programme. The Programme teaches Members presentation and story-telling skills by theatre and arts professionals with the idea that they then go into schools to engage with young people on how to overcome adversity. So far it has proved to be hugely successful, and Simon’s workshop was no different. In the first few months of being run, the programme has already influenced nearly 1,000 pupils, many of whom struggle to focus in class.

Thursday evening saw the Blesma Gala Night for the play Blue on Blue at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London’s West End. The play stars Member Darren Swift as injured veteran ‘Moss’. The theatre was packed out with Blesma staff, Members, supporters and people from the arts world. Following the play, writer Chips Hardy, director Harry Burton and the cast were on hand to answer questions from the audience. The play is on until 14 May.

In Membership Activities, nine Members are preparing to don their lycra and gear up for the Battlefield Ride, which leave UK shores on 07 May, going to and then cycling around the Somme in Belgium. This year will be especially poignant as 2016 marks 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, which started on 01 July and went on until November of the same year.