Blesma, The Limbless Veterans

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans The official page for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans

Blesma, The Limbless veterans helps all serving and ex-Servicemen and women who have lost limbs, or lost the use of limbs or eyes, to rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support. Our programmes allow Members and their families to face the challenges ahead with renewed confidence and self belief. We worked tirelessly for our members when the conflicts that have af

fected their lives and no longer a focal point in the nation media. Since 1932 we've been the only national service charity that supports limbless veterans for the duration of their lives.Our Members range from the youngest amputee veterans to those that fought in WWII.

Paul Woolley refused to give up the thing he loves. So he found a way around every obstacle.Paul is an RAF veteran whose...
19/06/2026

Paul Woolley refused to give up the thing he loves. So he found a way around every obstacle.

Paul is an RAF veteran whose life changed when a car accident broke his back. A passionate gardener, he wasn't about to let that stop him — so he simply reinvented how he gardens. He sows seeds and plants bulbs by sending them down lengths of pipe, and lowers seedlings into the ground balanced on a long-handled trowel.

Every problem, a solution.

For years, Paul has volunteered at the Blesma Garden and Orchard at the National Memorial Arboretum. He keeps the paths clear for wheelchairs and mobility aids, runs flower talks and festive wreath-making workshops for fellow Members, and quietly replaces plants, refusing to claim a single penny in expenses.

His dedication was recognised with the Earl of Ancaster Memorial Award — named after a Blesma Member who lost his leg in Normandy in 1944, and given each year to a volunteer who gives everything and asks for nothing back.

A truly deserved honour, Paul 💙

10 days to go: swim, fundraise, celebrate🎉Join the King of the Thames swim and raise valuable funds for injured veterans...
17/06/2026

10 days to go: swim, fundraise, celebrate🎉

Join the King of the Thames swim and raise valuable funds for injured veterans.

Swim from Hampton Court towards Kingston, then enjoy the party on the island after the challenge.

Fundraise for Blesma and get 50% off your entry.

Sign up today: https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/96766820/select-race

96 miles. 7,696 feet of climbing. 8 hours and 25 minutes.By handcycle!Mark Howard served in the Household Cavalry and wa...
16/06/2026

96 miles. 7,696 feet of climbing. 8 hours and 25 minutes.

By handcycle!

Mark Howard served in the Household Cavalry and was injured in service. Today he's a Blesma Member, and at the weekend he took on the Dragon Ride, one of the UK's toughest sportives, powering through the climbs of the Brecon Beacons using nothing but his arms.

Those Welsh mountain roads test cyclists riding on two fresh legs.

Mark took on nearly 7,700 feet of ascent and didn't stop until he'd crossed the line, medal earned.

And it's not his first time digging deep — Mark has completed five London Marathons. The man simply doesn't know how to quit.

Well done, Mark. 👏

He holds four Guinness World Records. This made him prouder.Lee Spencer left school with no qualifications. The only GCS...
14/06/2026

He holds four Guinness World Records. This made him prouder.

Lee Spencer left school with no qualifications. The only GCSE he ever gained — English — came as a serving corporal in the Royal Marines.

He served for 24 years, with tours of Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. Then in 2014, stopping to help at a motorway crash, he was struck by flying debris and lost his right leg.

In 2019, Lee rowed solo and unsupported across the Atlantic — 60 days, 16 hours and 6 minutes at sea. He didn't just break the able-bodied record. He beat it by 36 days.

But ask him about his proudest achievement, and it's none of that. It took Lee six years to get his book, The Rowing Marine, across the line.

"I felt I was failed by an education system that left me believing I was stupid. I found my place in the Royal Marines — an organisation that favours emotional intelligence, ingenuity and determination. Achieving four Guinness World Records was incredible, but becoming a published author eclipses them all."

📖 The Rowing Marine is out now at pen and sword

David joined the Army at 16, the fourth generation of his family to serve.After 40 years of service, from the Falklands ...
12/06/2026

David joined the Army at 16, the fourth generation of his family to serve.

After 40 years of service, from the Falklands to Bosnia, David nearly died of sepsis. Three times on the operating table, in fact. He spent a month in intensive care, and it took two months before he understood he'd lost his leg below the knee.

"I realised losing a leg wasn't the end of the world. It was just a different world."

Today David is a Chelsea Pensioner. He's joined the singing group, taken up photography, and last Remembrance Sunday he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in his scarlets.

"I'm happy and can smile. My daughter says she hasn't seen me this happy for many years."

For many limbless and injured veterans, one of the most powerful parts of Blesma Members Weekend is being surrounded by ...
09/06/2026

For many limbless and injured veterans, one of the most powerful parts of Blesma Members Weekend is being surrounded by people who understand.

Members Weekend brought together Blesma Members from across the UK for friendship, support, shared experiences and plenty of laughter.

From catching up with old friends to meeting other Members for the first time, the weekend was a reminder of what sits at the heart of Blesma: connection, community and lifelong support.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a special weekend. 💙

Big congrats to Blesma Member James Rose for making it to the top of Catbells in the Lake District! The British Army vet...
08/06/2026

Big congrats to Blesma Member James Rose for making it to the top of Catbells in the Lake District!

The British Army veteran lost both his legs in an IED blast in Afghanistan.

Exercise has played a huge part in James’ physical rehab, but he also says it’s been just as important for his mental health.

Well done, James — that’s brilliant!

07/06/2026

The Blesma "Human, Not Heroic" Podcast is a series that explores the extraordinary stories and honest conversations of those who’ve served in the military, adapted, and rebuilt their lives.

In this episode, host Harry sits down with Mark Smith, someone he has known for more than 30 years.

Mark enlisted at 16 as a Junior Soldier, later serving with the Coldstream Guards. Over nine years of service, he carried out ceremonial duties in London and deployed on operational tours during the Gulf War, the Northern Ireland conflict, and in Bosnia.

Mark shares his personal journey, including life after injury, mental health battles, and finding his way back from crisis.

Today, Mark runs his own counselling service helping veterans and their families, and continues to push for improved mental health care and faster access to support for those in need.

"It's a good cause — and you never know!"Retired RAF veterans Michael and Clare were on holiday in Austria when they rec...
06/06/2026

"It's a good cause — and you never know!"

Retired RAF veterans Michael and Clare were on holiday in Austria when they received an unexpected phone call — they had won £23,500 through the Make a Smile Lottery! 🎊

Michael, 77, and his wife Clare, 81, have played the lottery for five years. For two former RAF officers, supporting a charity for injured veterans felt like a natural choice. Michael also knew someone who suffered badly from PTSD following service in Iraq. "He still has a lot of mental and physical scars," he shared.

The couple split some of the winnings with their daughters and are planning holidays and a new car. Asked what he would say to others thinking of joining, Michael's advice was simple: "It's a good cause — and you never know."

Every ticket supports Blesma and other charities across the UK. In 2025, more than £1 million from ticket sales went directly to charity partners.

Could you be next? 👉 Join the Make a Smile Lottery and support Blesma: https://www.makeasmilelottery.org.uk/partners/blesma-the-limbless-veterans

04/06/2026

Did you know that you can support injured veterans by skydiving anywhere in the UK?

With over 20 airfields to choose from and jumps available all year round, there's never been a better time to take the plunge with Team Blesma by tandem skydiving for our wounded veterans.

✔️Jump from at least 10,000 ft — just like the professionals
✔️Freefall at 120 mph down to 5,000 ft
✔️Receive a fundraising pack, a Blesma t-shirt and a certificate to mark the occasion

Sign up today at https://blesma.org/support-us/find-an-event/sky-dive-for-blesma/skydive-for-blesma/

Address

115 New London Road
Chelmsford
CM20QT

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442085901124

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