2022
The Blesma News for 2022 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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Blesma Member Martin breaks records in Antarctica
8 January 2022
We are delighted to announce that yesterday, Blesma Member Martin Hewitt successfully reached the South Pole! It took Martin, along with his guide Louis Rudd, 50 days to reach the South Pole. It means the former paratrooper, whose right arm was paralysed when he was shot in Afghanistan, is the first disabled person to reach the South Pole unsupported and unassisted from the edge of Antarctica. The pair were forced to diverge from their original plan when Martin suffered a debilitating Achilles tendon injury. Despite the short break for medi
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Blesma Prosthetics Support Officer recognised in New Years Honours list
6 January 2022
Brian Chenier, the Support Officer who specialises in prosthetics at Blesma, has been awarded a MBE. The honour is for services to disabled veterans. Brian’s role involves offering advice and support to Members who may have been fitted for a prothesis or are awaiting fitting as well as advocating on the Members’ behalf to Limb Centres and other authorities across the UK. By being a member of various Armed Forces Networks, Brian is also involved in influencing decision making behind policies. Brian joined Blesma in April 2013, after serving in the Army f
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Four Blesma Members made MBEs in New Years Honours list
5 January 2022
Paralympians Stu Robinson and Jaco Van Gass, Scottish Veteran David Dent and skiing para-athlete Shona Brownlee have become MBE Winners in the Honours list 2022. Jaco Van Gass, who competed at the 2020 Paralympic Games, received the award for services to Cycling. He won two golds and one bronze at the 2020 Games.
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Charlie Holford
4 June 2021
Charlie received a series of incorrect diagnoses following a routine injury in 2012, and joined the Association after his left leg was amputated below the knee in November. “I joined the REME as an armourer when I was 20, and I loved it,” he says. “I breezed through Basic Training, won best recruit, and wanted to go into the Commandos or Paras. But after I’d been in a year, I hurt my ankle on a run. The PTI told me to get up and carry on, and I did. I was diagnosed with shin splints so did 13 sessions a week for months to try to address them. Eventually, it turned o
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