Bolt Burdon Kemp Support Blesma Week – Here’s Why You Should Too!
For the fifth year running, Blesma week is currently taking place across the UK from the 28th May until the 3rd June 2018 to raise vital funds for Blesma, a charity which supports serving members of the Armed Forces and Veterans who have suffered life changing injuries as a result of their service.
There’s another special reason to fundraise for Blesma this week. 2018 marks 100 years since the end of the First World War, and also marks 100 years since the start of Blesma. So as well as saying happy fundraising to all those taking part in Blesma week, we should also take this opportunity to wish Blesma a very happy 100th Birthday!
On Tuesday, the BBK Military team held the Big BBK Bake Off and cake sale to raise funds for the charity. Our very own Paul and Prue enthusiastically judged the event and deliberated on a winner and runner up before the cakes went on sale to the rest of the firm. You can see some photos of our event below….
Later in the week, members of the military team will also be taking part in bucket collections at Kings Cross station to persuade happy commuters to part with their spare change in aid of the charity.
Blesma also has a number of other exciting fundraising events taking place over the course of the year, details of which can be found here.
Why Blesma needs your support
Blesma are dedicated to assisting serving and ex-serving men and women who have suffered life changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight.
Blesma was founded in 1916 in the aftermath of the First World War, a war which saw 40,000 British men lose limbs. The charity has gone from strength to strength since its inception and their mission is simple: to enable limbless veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives. They are the expert Armed Forces charity for those living with limb loss.
Blesma currently looks after 3,093 members and widows. The relationship Blesma builds with its members is for life and ongoing support is therefore essential.
The impact of the vital work which Blesma does is clear to see. In 2016, Blesma generated £6,662,561 to support limbless veterans. Last year, Blesma delivered 1,609 home visits, 1,176 individual grants to 757 recipients and 42 rehabilitative activities to 312 participants.
Charities like Blesma rely on public donations to fund the fantastic work which they do. Events like Blesma week are crucial to the functioning of the charity, to raising awareness of the invaluable work which they do and to encouraging ongoing support. The charity simply could not continue their vital work supporting injured service personnel, veterans and their families without the ongoing support of all those who help to raise much needed funds for the charity.
You can find a link to my colleague, Cristiana Mitrofan’s blog with further information about the work which Blesma do here.
Claire Withey is a senior solicitor in the Military Claims team at Bolt Burdon Kemp. If you or a loved one have a claim, contact Claire free of charge and in confidence on 020 7288 4821 or at ClaireWithey@boltburdonkemp.co.uk. Alternatively, complete this form and one of the solicitors in the Military team will contact you. Find out more about the team Military Claims team.
