Amputee veterans gear up for cross-Channel charity challenge
12 August 2014
Four Blesma Members are getting ready to take on the English Channel in the first all-amputee attempt to swim from Dover to Cap Gris Nez (the headland halfway between Calais and Boulogne), a distance of approximately 21 land miles, to raise money for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans.
Stephen White, Jamie Gillespie, Conrad Thorpe and Craig Howorth, who are all single leg amputees, will have between the 1st and the 7th of September to start and complete the swim, depending on weather, conditions and other swimmers.
The four amputees will be adhering to the Official Channel Swimming Association (CSA) rules which include no wetsuits in water temperatures which average at 18°C for September. They will not wear their prosthetic legs out of choice and will be swimming in a relay.
The team have been fundraising through family, friends and contacts and are currently at over £600 but are hoping to increase this significantly.
To prepare for the challenge, they have been training at local lakes and in the sea to get their bodies used to the colder temperatures and have also taken part in some open water swimming events such as the Chillswim Coniston in the Lake District.
In June the group completed a confirmation swim in Dover overseen by their CSA Observer Giovanna Richards to make sure that they were all fit enough to take on the challenge by completing a continuous swim in the sea lasting at least two hours.
Giovanna says: “Coaching and assisting the team has been an absolute pleasure. They are all strong swimmers and very determined to make this swim a success. Initially I was concerned about the cold water affecting their stumps, but the guys completed their 2 hour qualification swim in June in Dover Harbour with no issues at all and actually went back in after a short rest. I will be with them every stroke of the way during their crossing in September and will be very proud to join such brave and inspiring men in being the first all-amputee team to cross the English Channel for Blesma.”
Ian Waller, Operations Director at Blesma says: “Conrad, Craig, Jamie and Stephen have all been training so hard to prepare themselves for such a challenging event and we are so pleased that they are supporting Blesma. The funds that they raise will go directly to helping Blesma provide vital support to injured service personnel, and may even inspire some of them to take on such a physical and mental feat themselves. I wish them all the very best of luck for September.”
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants. It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932.
To show your support for the team in their fundraising efforts, please go to: http://www.justgiving.com/stephen-white12
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor
Hi-res images can be downloaded from the links below:
The team on the beach: /media/161726/Qual-swim-2.png
The team on the boat: /media/161724/Qual-swim.png
Ready to swim: /media/161723/Qual-swim-3.png
About Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless serving and ex-service men and women, their widows and dependants. It is a membership organisation which helps wounded service men and women rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support. Their membership includes those who have lost the use of a limb, an eye or the sight of an eye.
Blesma was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932. Blesma today has over 4000 Members and widows. The membership consists of men and women who have served during the Second World War and the many subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations since, including the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
About the Swimmers
Craig Howorth (46): Craig is a right leg below-the-knee amputee after losing his leg in a road traffic accident in 2006. Craig had previously served as a submariner in the Royal Navy from 1988 to 1993. He currently lives in Bacup, Lancashire and now works as a trail leader for Military Mountain Bikers.
Jamie Gillespie (39): Jamie was serving as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers when he was involved in a road traffic accident and lost his left leg below the knee in 1994. He was discharged from the Army in 1995 and has since retrained as a prosthetist. He works for Pace Rehabilitation and is living in Watford.
Stephen White (49): Stephen was serving as a Rifleman with The Royal Green Jackets when a cruciate knee injury led to him losing his left leg above the knee. Stephen was discharged from the Army in 1987 and has since become a Chief Executive. He currently lives in Newport, Essex.
Conrad Thorpe (50): Conrad was born and grew up in East Africa and represented Kenya at the Commonwealth Games in 1982. He served in the Royal Marines for 21 years, during which time he was selected for the Special Boat Service and served all over the world with them, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Conrad damaged his ankle while running which eventually led to an elective amputation in 2011. Jamie is his prosthetist - which is also how he joined the team. Conrad is now the Chief Executive of one of Africa’s leading risk management and security companies.
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Use the hashtag #BLESMAChannelSwim
For further information on Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, contact
Bryony Stevens, Media and Communications Assistant
T: 020 8590 1124
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