Thousands of people voted in The People’s Choice Award category of the Soldiering On Awards, held on Friday 22 April in London, making the Blesma Channel Swim team the winners.
The all-amputee team, Steve White, Jamie Gillespie, Craig Howorth and Conrad Thorpe completed the crossing in September 2014 in just over 12 hours raising around £4,000 for Blesma and setting the record for the first all-amputee team to cross the Channel. They adhered to the Official Channel Swimming Association (CSA) rules which include not wearing wetsuits in water temperatures that average at 18°C for September. They did not wear their prosthetic legs out of choice.
Swimmers Steve, Craig and Jamie were in attendance on the night joined by their coach and CSA official Giovanna Richards. Fourth team member Conrad was unfortunately unable to attend. The Awards were presented by Jeremy Vine and actress Vicki Michelle at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster.
Steve White said: “We trained hard but nothing prepared us for the open sea. At times it was a real struggle but seeing the lads on the boat and listening to Giovanna, I had to go on.”
Giovanna added: “We raised a glass to Conrad because his contribution was outstanding. He got them off to a great start at Dover in the bitterly cold seas and he finished it by reaching the shore in France.”
Barry Le Grys, Blesma Chief Executive said: "Jamie, Craig, Conrad and Steve came up with a world beating idea but the odds were against it. They, with coach Giovanna, made it happen, beating the particularly bad odds on the day due to bad weather. They pushed one another on as true fellows can and showed the world what doggedly determined fellowship can achieve. There is a lesson for us all here."
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.