2016
The Blesma News for 2016 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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Changes to Membership categories
23 June 2016
The Blesma AGM was held today at the RAF Club in central London. As part of the proceedings, new Articles of Association were voted into place by those present and by Members who had sent in their postal vote to redefine some of the Membership categories. While there have been no major changes, the main addition is that those who lose the use of their limb(s) through a traumatic incident that is not service-related are now eligible for Associate Membership. If you have any queries regarding the Membership categories, please speak to your BSO or call Blesma on 0208 590 1124.
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Where to find Blesma this Armed Forces Day
23 June 2016
This year's Armed Forces Day national event is being held in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire with a whole weekend filled with spectacular events. Saturday 25th June 2016 marks the awareness day but events are set to take place from Friday for Blesma as our team with be collecting at the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Quarter Final – Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings. Rugby fans can catch the match on BBC2 from 19:30pm. Events will be happening up and down the country in support of Armed Forces Day with communities holding events and businesses p
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WW1 War diaries reveal how a war hero survived losing a limb during Battle of the Somme and helped form the beginning of Blesma.
23 June 2016
Wilfred Whitfield was an unlikely war hero. At 5ft 2in tall, and weighing just 8 stones, he volunteered to fight in WWI every week from the start of the conflict, but was sent home each time (the minimum height for a soldier was 5ft 3in). The huge loss of life as Germany swept through Europe eventually gave him his chance and he was allowed to sign up. Wilf lost his left arm at the Battle of the Somme, which began 100 years ago on 01 July 1916, and marked the worst day in British military history as 57,000 troops were either killed or wounded. But like so many other
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Royal Engineers present Blesma with a cheque for £30,000 following BD75 commemorations
20 June 2016
Earlier this month, Blesma’s Chief Executive (and former Royal Engineer) Barry Le Grys, Associate Director of Fundraising Barbara Warner, and Blesma Member Matt Weston travelled to the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Engineers in Chatham, Kent to receive a cheque from Lieutenant Colonel William MacDonald and Lieutenant Colonel Dickie Hawkins MBE. Throughout 2015, events were held to commemorate BD75 – the 75th anniversary of Bomb Disposal within the Royal Engineers – which raised money for three charities: Blesma, the Royal Engineers Association and Walking with the W
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