2020
The Blesma News for 2020 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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Jon-Allan Butterworth has retired from professional Cycling after an 11-year career
19 December 2020
Jon-Allan’s cycling journey began just 10 weeks after having his arm amputated due to injuries suffered in an attack at the Basra Air Station in August 2017. It was while he was still recovering at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Hedley Court in Surrey when he first made contact with British Cycling at a Paralympics GB talent ID day in Loughborough. After being selected the former RAF Weapons Technician went on to set a world record in the c5 kilo at the 2011 World Championships before he made his Paralympic debut at the London Paralympics in 2012
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Listen to our podcast "The Resilience Sessions"
15 December 2020
The Resilience Sessions is a podcast that brings together injured veterans from Blesma and a well known public figure, to share their stories of overcoming challenge of all kinds. Through these conversations our guests chat to one another about their experiences, sharing how they have navigated their ups and downs, finding often surprising common ground, and showing that what is most personal is often most universal. The Resilience Sessions grew out of the Making Generation R campaign, which has trained injured veterans to tell their stories to over 100,000 fr
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Peter Norton takes on Dorney Lake 5km Challenge
13 December 2020
Blesma Member Pete Norton GC is attempting to walk 5km this Sunday – the furthest distance he has walked since he was injured in 2005. For 15 years, Pete has used a wheelchair after he was injured while serving with the Royal Logistic Corps in the Iraq War. He was checking for the presence of devices when an IED was triggered and exploded. He lost his left leg above the knee, his left arm below the elbow and suffered back injuries. However, after undergoing surgery for Osseointegration last year, he has been able to walk once again and determined to push himse
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Art class during lockdown
11 December 2020
With our diaries scrubbed of social engagements, activities - and for myself equestrian competing - 2020 has proved an awkward, disillusioned year so far. I hope you have managed to stay safe and well. Blesma activities going online has kept isolation anxiety and loneliness at bay. I was grateful to join the Virtual Family Friendly Art Workshop via Zoom, a three-day activity spread over three weeks. It is run by Metal Southend, who have hosted Art workshops with Blesma in the past, and it really gave me something different to look forward to. Experienc
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