Fred Pavey carries 50lb and makes £1400 for Blesma!

A former Royal Engineer has completed a ten-day 50-pound loaded challenge with wacky household appliances after being inspired by fellow Blesma Member Neil Heritage.

Back in June, Fred Pavey, 64, from Kent, decided to get fit and kick started his fitness journey by walking up and down his garden for 30 repetitions, carrying 30 pounds.

Determined to increase his fitness and inspired by double amputee Neil Heritage summitting the Matterhorn in August, Fred took on a ten-day loaded challenge. He weighed down his backpack to 50 pounds and each day carried different household appliances, from a jet wash and a pair of garden step ladders to children’s spades and buckets.

“With the Blesma bucket collections cancelled I decided to do my own event in aid of Blesma” said Fred, who had his right hand blown off while attempting to neutralise a Chinese mine in Libya in 2011, during the time of Colonel Ghaddafi.

“I’m an upper limb amputee and have legs so carrying 50 pounds is no problem for me, but carrying something really awkward like a hoover or an ironing board made it a little more difficult. It was a slog. Mainly because as I started as the heat wave began and my garden isn’t straight forward. The paint work in my garden suffered because I kept banging into everything, trying to get these things round corners.”

Fred began his challenge on 5 August and has so far raised £1400 for the Association.