2016
The Blesma News for 2016 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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MOD News: Mefloquine Single Point of Contact
1 September 2016
On 5th September the Ministry of Defence will launch the Mefloquine Single Point of Contact for current and former Service personnel who have concerns about their experience of Mefloquine (commercially known as Lariam). The MOD takes the health and well-being of its personnel seriously and acknowledges its duty of care to provide the best possible support to them. This service provides information and signposting to a range of services to address their concerns. Calls to the line are confidential and no personal details are retained. Lines are open between 9-5
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Wounded veterans to compete at the Armed Forces Parachute Championships
16 August 2016
Four wounded veterans are to represent BLESMA whilst taking to the sky to compete at the Armed Forces Parachute Championships 2016. The team will consist of Ed Appleby, Alex Slegg, Ryan Goodman and Stuart Sneddon. They will be competing at 4-Way Formation Skydiving against able bodied teams from the Armed Forces. All members taking part have been injured during or after service and between them share only two working legs – Ed Appleby is a single amputee from Exeter Devon, Stuart Sneddon is a single amputee from Falkirk, Ryan Goodman is a double amputee from West Midlands and
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Lieutenant-Colonel Jerome Church Obituary
10 August 2016
Jerome Church became chief executive of Blesma, the Limbless Veterans’ association, on the eve of two wars in which the loss of limbs became a concern almost comparable to that for fatal casualties. The insurgencies that followed the initial military successes in Iraq and Afghanistan featured widespread use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), imposing an insidious threat inhibiting deployment under fire and travel on and off roads. Church had lost a leg to an IED in Northern Ireland but found the determination and humour to live an almost normal life. This inspired him to help sh
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Passing of the charity’s National President, His Grace the Duke of Westminster.
10 August 2016
All at Blesma are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of His Grace the Duke of Westminster, the charity’s National President. The Duke of Westminster became Blesma’s National President in the Summer of 1992, succeeding Sir Austin Bunch. His family had been associated with the Chester Branch for years beforehand, and the Duke was Patron of the branch before becoming National President. The Duke’s charitable endeavours and in particular his support for the Armed Forces will be greatly missed, and everyone at Blesma offers their sincere condolences to the Grosvenor fami
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