West Ham, Liverpool, Blesma!

West Ham v Liverpool's match in the Premier League aimed to raise awareness of Blesma.

West Ham United has had a strong partnership with Blesma since 2016, ranging from Blesma Members visiting the teams’ training ground, a Remembrance Day ceremony, and several awareness matches. This latest collaboration came thanks to the support of the West Ham United Foundation. Fans were able to donate to the charity via bucket collectors (Blesma Bucketeers), at the London Stadium

During half time Blesma Member Ashley Hall did a Q & A on Blesma and his journey with the charity. Ash served in the Royal Engineers for ten years. He was part of an Improvised Explosive Device search team and lost both of his legs and sustained serious injuries to his hands and arms when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in 2010.

With help from Blesma, Invictus Games Silver medalist Ash has learnt to tell his story of overcoming adversity and has been sharing it with young people through Blesma’s impactful ‘Making Generation R’ programme ever since. As part of the programme, Members receive training from professional West End actors to construct and present their story. The Veterans then take their stories into schools to help young people learn about resilience.

Before embarking on Making Generation R, Ash was shy and lacking in confidence. The London Stadium was be his biggest audience yet! He said: “Telling my story on a West End stage inspires me to share and communicate my experience.”