Blesma News
Latest news from Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
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Blesma has been shortlisted for the Charity Times Awards 2020
29 July 2020
The shortlist for the 21st annual Charity Times Awards has been announced – and Blesma Connects has made the list! The awards reward excellence in the Charity Sector across over 25 separate categories. The best individual charities and charity leaders are celebrated, alongside the best examples of specific areas of management including fundraising, communications, campaigning, use of technology, and more. This year Blesma has been nominated for ‘The Best use of Technology’ Category, due to the fantastic success of Blesma Connects. Since the App launched in ear
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Troops Tackle Tabs to Raise Money for Blesma
28 July 2020
Serving Personnel of 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment have been running, tabbing, and even leopard crawling 7.5km to raise money for Blesma. “I’ve been a supporter for a long time,” said Lance Corporal Callum Brown, whose idea it was to start the challenge. “The work the charity does is unbelievable – it is still providing vital support with everything that’s going on. The Members have given so much, the least we can do is support them.” Callum and members of his squadron completed the 7.5km distance carrying
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Korean War veteran and Blesma Member Albert Hazeltine tells his story.
27 July 2020
Albert Hazeltine lost a leg in the Korean War, and in recent years had to have his below-knee amputation taken above the knee. He was a latecomer to Blesma, but soon became a great fan! How did you get involved with the military?I’m from London, but I eventually moved away and began working on farms on the Isle of Wight. When it was time to do my two years of military service, I thought I might as well join up properly and get paid for it. I joined the Royal Artillery and was attached to the Maintenance Corps. I learned how to drive tanks, a
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Kirk quick to RE:ACT to help those on the front line
26 July 2020
Eager to use his military experience to help those on the coronavirus front line, Blesma Member Kirk Bowett began volunteering with disaster response charity Op RE:ACT (previously Team Rubicon UK) in April. The former Infantryman was part of a group of 20 tasked with supporting NHS staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London at the peak of the pandemic. “Hospital staff were working 12-hour shifts and were then unable to find food as everyone was panic buying,” said Kirk, who lost his left arm below the elbow in an IED attack in Iraq in 2013.
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