Member Martin "Ed" Edwards, A former 5 Rifles Infantryman, took to the ski slopes for a series of exhilarating runs on a week-long adventure in Austria recently.

The 40 year old, who suffered a severe brain injury in 2006 after his vehicle was hit by an IED in Iraq, requires 24/7 support but relishes the thrill of sit skiing.

“Ed had an amazing time and it was so good for him,” said his former key worker Sally Mendonca, who organised the trip thanks to a Blesma grant.

“He was doing red runs with his guide by the end of the week! The trips are so beneficial for Ed.

He likes getting his kit ready leading up to the trip, and after every run he just says: ‘Amazing, amazing!’ It is fantastic to see.”

Sally, who served 23 years in the Adjutant General’s Corps and worked with Ed at the Phoenix House Recovery Centre at Catterick Garrison before it closed, added: “We started off at an indoor ski slope and Ed just took to it. Blesma funded a trip for him in 2019 but we couldn’t go because of the pandemic, so it was great that Blesma stepped in again to support him and get him back out on the snow in January. We are all so thankful because it means so much to Ed. It is really good for him physically as well as for his morale. Ed says a big ‘thank you’ to Blesma.