In just under a month, Five Blesma Members along with a group of friends will be taking on the Coast2Coast cycling challenge to give back to a charity that has supported them since their injuries.
The challenge will begin on 06 April, Easter Monday, and will last for three days. In that time the team, including two on hand-bikes, will cover a gruelling 140 miles starting in Morecambe in the West and ending in Filey in the East. They will be passing through Ingleton, Hawes, Redmire, Leyburn, Thirsk and Malton before ending at Filey seafront.
Blesma Member Jonathan Bell, who has coordinated the ride says: “This is about Blesma Members putting something back in - it’s as simple as that. We want to make sure more injured guys have the opportunities that we’ve had by raising as much money as possible for this fantastic charity that has helped us so much.”
Between them, the team have already collected £4,500 but are determined to raise as much as possible.
Barry Le Grys, Chief Executive of Blesma says: “Jonathan and his fellows wish to put ‘something back in’ – this is the fellowship that Blesma is. It is positive, it inspires, it lifts up those who are down, it looks forward to independent and fulfilling lives. We are so grateful.”
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.