2020
The Blesma News for 2020 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
-
Remembering D-Day - Peter Van Zeller
6 June 2020
Peter Van Zeller, 98, served in both the RAF and the Army during World War II, and six days after D-Day he was shot in the arm by a sniper while advancing with the Somerset Light Infantry. A surgeon saved his elbow but the amputation ended his war. He received no compensation, no rehabilitation but was determined to have a full, independent life. “I learned to do everything again,” he says. “It still takes me an hour to shave, shower, dress and make my bed each day, but I do it.” Peter, who joined Blesma after his in
Read post -
Blesma's Virtual All Levels Yoga: Session 3
5 June 2020
The Blesma Activities team have been hard at work, continuously thinking about new ways to bring their activities to all Members on a virtual level. During these times it is so important to focus on both physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga is the perfect balance of the two. As such, the Activities Team have worked with an amazing PT and Yoga coach, Lizzie Croxford, to bring you a yoga session that is suitable for all our Members. Lizzie has worked with Blesma in the past on the Couples fitness and lifestyle course, which took place in Mallorca last year with h
Read post -
Meet fellow Blesma Members: Stella Clarke
4 June 2020
When Stella was interviewed for this piece she was 94 years old and was one of Blesma’s longest-serving Members, having being injured 76 years ago as a civilian I was 13 years old when WWII broke out. My father was a Regimental Sergeant Major, so my five siblings and I knew a lot about Army life. We weren’t children – we were his troops! We’d come home from school, polish our shoes and line them up ready for his inspection. We learned all sorts of things; my father even taught me how to read a blueprint! During the war, I worked at a pen f
Read post -
The Resilience Sessions - Carol Vorderman and Si Harmer
2 June 2020
The Resilience Sessions is a podcast series featuring compelling in-depth interviews, which bring to light life-changing and affirming experiences of Blesma veterans and the unknown personal struggles of celebrity guests who have fought to overcome hardship, including mental health difficulties, disability, devastating injury and bereavement. This podcast series is created in association with The Drive Project, who work with Blesma to deliver Making Generation R. We have already helped over 50,000 young people and first responders through the Making Generation R camp
Read post