2020
The Blesma News for 2020 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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A message from Blesma to Tony Hudgell
9 July 2020
You may recently have seen a story being shared on social media about the incredible five-year-old Tony Hudgell. Tony lost both of his legs as the result of abuse, and even though he is still getting used to his new prosthetic legs he has raised over £1.2million for the NHS by walking with crutches every day in June. We thought that it would be fantastic if we could share a message of thanks and encouragement for Tony, from as many Blesma Members as possible. It is often said that our Membership
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Making Generation R is there for schools online during Lockdown
8 July 2020
The hugely successful Making Generation R programme has shown its own resilience with a new online resource that has been created to help teenagers cope with the pressures of lockdown. Members may not be able to go into schools in person to tell their inspirational stories about overcoming adversity, but their voices are still being heard at what is a critical time for the wellbeing of young people. That’s because a team of 30 Members have produced film versions of their talks – each one designed to help viewers build resilience – that can be used by teachers in disc
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Conrad’s model behaviour is given new lease of life
7 July 2020
Thanks to the Association, injured Army veteran Conrad Molloy now has a dedicated workspace in which he can pursue his model making hobby. Conrad served with the Royal Anglian Regiment for nine years before his left leg was amputated below the knee after he was injured by a bomb blast in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 2000. Eight years ago, he reconnected with a childhood hobby; model making. When his pastime began to take over the family living room, Blesma stepped in to fund a workshop in the Molloys’ garden that would allow Conrad a private space
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A thank you message from the ADVANCE Study
6 July 2020
The Team behind the ADVANCE Study (ArmeD SerVices TrAuma RehabilitatioN OutComE Study), a unique twenty-year study into the health of military veterans, have recorded a message of thanks to commemorate Armed Forces Day. ADVANCE investigates the long-term physical and psycho-social outcomes of battlefield casualties from the UK Armed Forces following deployment to Afghanistan between 2003 and 2014. This study, costing over £1M per year to run, is a collaboration between the Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DM
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