2016
The Blesma News for 2016 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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My Blesma Week: Jonathan Bell
31 May 2016
Serving his country was always something that Jonathan Bell aspired to do. Brought up in a military family, Jonathan was no stranger to war stories or the job that faced him. So in 1986 Jonathan joined the 1st Battalion, The Green Howards, completing several tours in Northern Ireland. But it was on a military training exercise for operations in Bosnia in1993 that Jonathan and 15 other soldiers were seriously injured. As a result of the accident, Jonathan was left paralysed from the upper chest, with severe head and leg injuries, and a foot amputation.
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Why support Blesma Week? June and Betty's story
30 May 2016
It’s a well-known trait that sisters share a lot in common, same eyes, same style in clothes, same hair style but for sisters June Thompson and Betty Cole their similarities are even shared through their marriages, for the sisters both married limbless veterans. June, 86, the elder of the sisters, was the first to meet her husband, Stanley Wilson Thompson. They met whilst June was working in Leeds at the Blind School in 1949, just after Stanley had returned from WW2. “He never spoke much about the War even to me. Certain moments would spark a bit of memory, like he once spoke
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Brentwood Festival chooses Blesma as its charity of the year
17 May 2016
The Brentwood Festival has chosen Blesma as its nominated charity for 2016. Blesma, The Limbless Veterans helps all serving and ex-Service men and women who have lost limbs, or lost the use of limbs or eyes, to lead independent and fulfilling lives. The festival is being held at the Brentwood Centre from Friday 15 July to Sunday 17 July with over 10,000 people expected to attend over the weekend. Acts performing include Soul II Soul, Level 42, Tony Hadley and The Boomtown Rats. As well as the music stages, there will be a food village, a festival market and a fairground. Tickets sta
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Blesma campaign secures Headley Court clinic for veterans and serving personnel
4 May 2016
Headley Court will now treat veterans who suffer from amputation-related medical issues as a result of recent operations. Eligible injured veterans will be able to receive the supply, maintenance and repair of prosthetics, and will be able to benefit from assessments, physiotherapy, counselling and mental health support The announcement, which comes as hundreds of injured veterans are competing at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, also means they have access to help from staff who have more than a decade of experience in managing the rehabilitation of complex trauma inju
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