26 July 2021
This year, Blesma have had two nominees listed as finalists for the 2021 Soldiering On Awards!
These are:
Neil Heritage – Sporting Excellence Award
Making Generation R – Education, Training and Development Award
Today, on the 26th July, voting will open for the public to contribute their views on who should be the winner in the Sporting Excellence category.
Blesma have nominated Neil Heritage.
The former Corporal, who lost both his legs to a suicide bomb in Iraq in 2004, had to abandon two attempts on the Matterhorn as he neared the summit of 14,692 ft high peak on the Swiss-Italian border. The disappointment was devastating but Neil tried and tried again and on the 3rd attempt, even contending with one of his prosthetic legs falling off 100 metres from the top. He finally made it in August 2020.
His successful summit is a beacon of endeavour, and an inspiration for anyone looking to tackle their own ‘Matterhorn’s’. Not everyone will want to climb a mountain and each person’s Matterhorn moment will be different but Neil’s efforts have demonstrated are that you can achieve and enjoy great fulfilment following injury.
The following Members have also made the list of finalists, through nominations by other organisations.
- Josh Boggi - Sporting Excellence Award
- Mark Ormrod MBE - Inspiration Award
- Martin Hewitt - Inspiration Award
All in all this is a fantastic showing for Blesma and our Members, particularly as this year saw a record number of nominations.
We hope you will join us in getting behind the public voting for the Sporting Excellence Award which opens today, July 26th at 17:00 and lasts until August 8th.
We can help
We are dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK. Click the link below to find out the different kinds of support we offer.
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