2020
The Blesma News for 2020 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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Rose rises to the top on Mount Kilimanjaro
14 February 2020
Member James Rose has become the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. The British Army veteran, who lost both his legs 10 years ago to an IED blast in Afghanistan, reached the 5,895m summit in September after a five-day climb. “Kilimanjaro ruined me, but I made it to the top without any help,” said the 32 year old from Middlesbrough. “There were good times but there were some horrific times when I just wanted to give up. Somehow, though, I kept moving and was eventually able to conquer the highest free-standing mount
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Waterloo Uncovered
13 February 2020
Waterloo Uncovered, is a registered UK charity which was founded in 2015. Established the same year as the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, it’s aims are to conduct the first ever major archaeological excavation of the Waterloo Battlefield, and to provide support to the veteran and serving military communities. They are looking for a number of Veteran and Serving Military Personnel (VSMP) to take part in their annual VSMP Programme. The pr
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97-year-old veteran given top french military medal
12 February 2020
A WWII veteran who was unable to leave his home for five years until Blesma came to his rescue has received France’s highest order of merit; the Legion d’Honneur. Reginald Webb joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in 1942 after his family home was bombed in the war. He saw action two years later, landing on the beaches of Normandy in the days after D-Day. His first task was to help protect Arromanches, where troops and supplies would off-load. “The Germans were trying to take the harbour away from us. By the time heavy Infantry arrived we had lost most of the company. We only h
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Members in full sail at the Greek Regatta
11 February 2020
Blesma Member Nigel Smith took 11 of his fellow Members to Greece for a week of sailing around the Ionian Islands. On their arrival at Preveza Airport in Lefkas they were taken to their destination – Vounaki Beach Club – where three yachts were waiting to be crewed. They were split into groups of four and each group was given a safety briefing by their skipper to make them ready for their first day of sailing. Two boats were manned by qualified Day Skippers and the third by a Yacht Master. The Yacht Master would be teaching a crew of three Members the basics o
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