A team of injured veterans from the UK and the United States will be visiting Blesma’s Blackpool Home on Lytham Road on Thursday 17th September as part of their ‘Walk of Britain’ which is raising money for Walking With The Wounded.
The Walk of Britain expedition will see four British and two US wounded veterans walk 1,000 miles across mainland Britain, having started in Scotland on August 22nd. They will be finishing at Buckingham Palace on November 1st.
The team is made up of Alec Robotham, Matt Fisher, Scott Ransley, Stewart Hill and Americans Kirstie Ennis and Andrew Bement, all of whom have suffered life-changing injuries while serving with the military on overseas operations.
By the time they reach Blackpool, the team will have completed the 27th day of the 72-day challenge which so far has raised over £11,500 for Walking With The Wounded.
Waiting to receive the team at Blesma Blackpool will be the Home’s residents and staff, including Chief Executive Barry Le Grys MBE. Along with the Blesma party, the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth and his wife Lady Shuttleworth will be present. The Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Peter Callow and the Mayoress Councillor Maxine Callow will also be in attendance.
Barry says: “It is marvellous to host the Walk of Britain at the Blesma Home as they pass through Blackpool. Blesma was born in the aftermath of WW1 to assist limbless veterans and cares for its Members through life as the Home bears witness. We are a specialist Service charity though and we recognise the holistic needs of Members so we naturally turn to the likes of Walking With The Wounded for their own brand of expertise when our Members would benefit. The visit today demonstrates how we can all travel forward together in the Service charity arena.”