Due to no active conflicts, the sacrifices of our veterans are sadly being forgotten. They still need your continued support, so they can lead independent and fulfilling lives after suffering the loss of a limb.
The Afghanistan War may be over for our troops, but for many veterans, the mental and physical battle rages on.
Veterans like Murray, Scott and Matt experienced life-changing injuries and emotional trauma whilst on duty.
They still need your continued support, so they can lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Murray's Story
Murray served for 12 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, but his life was shattered by a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2010 that left both his feet needing to be amputated.
"I remember a loud boom and then being on the ground with the medic giving me morphine. My shins had been shattered, so when I was lifted onto a stretcher my feet flopped down. That was the wake-up call that brought the pain! I’d also fractured my back in six places, broken my pelvis, ripped my liver and spleen…" - Murray
He struggled mentally for a number of years afterwards; firstly with the aftermath of amputation, and more profoundly when he lost his young son to a sudden illness.
"Our house had been renovated, but very badly, and I reached out to Blesma for help so I could focus on my son. Later on, my marriage came under pressure – my wife felt I hadn’t mourned our son properly – and Blesma helped me with counselling. I’ve got nothing but love for the charity [Blesma]."
Scott's Story
"The day I was blown up was the day my life changed completely. I went from being a young man fighting for my country to being an amputee in a hospital bed without a career." - Scott
Scott served with the Irish Guards from 2005 to 2013. He was injured by an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2010 which resulted in him losing both legs above the knee, as well as seriously injuring an arm.
Initially his prosthetics caused some problems. The first six weeks were particularly hard for Scott. At one point, one of his stumps swelled up and got stuck in the prosthetic, and as a result, he couldn’t get it off. In the exact words of Scott: "They had to get the biggest bloke at Headley Court to yank it off while they scraped back my skin."
After a while, the injury affected Scott's marriage and he ended up separating from his partner after getting out of hospital. Later on, he remarried and had a second son, and was part of the team that won the bronze medal in wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games in 2017.
Scott exclaimed: "The Association [Blesma] has been great for me. I’ve taken part in the local events that have been organised by my Support and Outreach Officers. I enjoy the Christmas lunches, the days out, all the gatherings and family days. I’ve gone back to college to study maths, English and accounting, and I’ve passed an accounting exam. I volunteer with the Army Cadets, and they are interested in my time in the Forces."
Matt's Story
Matt was just 20 when he lost three limbs to a bomb blast in Afghanistan.
Matt exclaimed: "All I remember is a flash, my ears ringing, and the sense of falling. I lost both my legs and my right arm below the elbow in the blast. My rehab has been long, slow and difficult.
"I was in intensive care for a while and was in hospital for three months, and I've just had my fiftieth operation. If my chair breaks and I can't repair it, Blesma will get it done. I was in a bad place after my injury but Blesma have been there for me, by my side from day one."
Matt has dedicated his post-military career to supporting fellow wounded, injured and sick veterans to successful transition from military service into the civilian workspace.
How your donation could help
Since 1932, Blesma has worked tirelessly to provide practical, emotional and financial support to injured military personnel and their families as they rebuild their lives. Here are just a few ways in which the Association helps:
Advice and information on prosthetics, mobility aid provision, benefits, and the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
Financial assistance in the form of grants to help with the additional costs and hardships of living with disability.
Blesma Support Officers, along with Blesma Outreach Officers, are available to provide practical advice and emotional support to our injured veterans and their families.
Year-round activities and courses stretch from the adrenaline fuelled to the relaxing to the cerebral, and often include Members’ partners and families.
Advocacy to ensure that everything from health to prosthetics to social care provision meets the needs of every Member. We take pride in speaking up, and we campaign for our membership where necessary.
A personal approach is vital, and we place great emphasis on caring, listening, and striving to learn, never patronising, and always putting our Members’ needs first.
At Blesma, we are proud to support injured veterans for life. Your donation, no matter how big or small will help us support injured veterans for life.
Support Us
Blesma was founded in the aftermath of the First World War. Since 1932, Blesma has worked tirelessly to provide practical, emotional and financial support to injured military personnel, their families and widow(er)s as they rebuild their lives.
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