Sergeant Stuart Hague, 36 from Plymouth, will be joining BLESMA runners taking part in this year’s Virgin London Marathon for London-based military charity BLESMA – The Limbless Veterans.
Stuart is currently serving as a Senior Non Commissioned Officer at the Aeromedical Evacuation Control Centre, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Stuart became aware of BLESMA’s work while based at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court between 2006 and 2011. He worked with the injured service personnel tracking their progress throughout their rehabilitation. Stuart also has a family connection with the charity as his step-father Paul Goodall is a BLESMA Member who was injured whilst serving with the Royal Navy which later led to both his legs being amputated.
Stuart says: “Running my first marathon for BLESMA made sense as not only do they provide vital support for service personnel injured recently, they assist veterans like my step-father who were injured after their service – BLESMA truly is a charity for life. I am looking forward to adding to my running total of £900 to raise as much money as I can for such a great cause.”
As well as his online fundraising page, Stuart has plans to bolster his fundraising efforts by collecting money on the gates of the RAF Brize Norton base, and at the entrance of his local supermarket.
Elizabeth Pappalardo, Senior Fundraising Executive for Community & Events at BLESMA says: “To have Stuart running for BLESMA and giving something back means a lot to us here at HQ. Family is such an important part of the support network for our injured service personnel so it’s fantastic to have Members’ families get on board and support us. I wish Stuart the best of luck with his fundraising and training efforts and look forward to seeing him at the finish line!”
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.