Blesma Fundraiser's 457-Day Tribute to Fallen Comrades

Congratulations to British Army veteran Andrew O’Donoghue, who has successfully completed his extraordinary challenge to remember the 457 British soldiers who died in Afghanistan, raising funds for Blesma along the way.

Andrew spoke to Blesma about the challenge he had set himself to run 4.57km every day for 457 days in memory of the 457 British soldiers who did not return from the war in Afghanistan, a conflict in which the 42 year old was a participant.

The Ashton dad of one was in the Queen’s Lancashire and later the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiments during 22 years’ service including in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“So I set myself this challenge, which started on 16 May 2022. It benefitted me as well as Blesma because I find fitness is good for both the body and mind. I like pushing myself – it keeps me strong. And I hope the challenge will raise the profile of Blesma and the ex-Service personnel it works hard to support.”

I consider myself fortunate to have come through both of those conflicts pretty much unscathed, but there were plenty of soldiers who did not

Queen’s Lancashire veteran Andrew