The Shrewsbury Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club have taken on the O2 climb in London to raise money for military charity Blesma, The Limbless Veterans…
The group of 27 ranged in age from nine to 81 and included double amputee and Member of Blesma Clive Smith. Clive, who was injured in Afghanistan in 2010, was the first double amputee to complete the challenge in the capital.
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Clive said: “Since injury like a lot of the blokes, we need a challenge, we need to feel enabled not disabled and I like pushing boundaries! Once this opportunity came up to take on this challenge, knowing I was the first double amputee to do this and seeing it as some fun, I signed up!
“It was just highly unfortunate the World Cup was on, but my wife and friends kindly kept me updated on the scores! Overall the o2 and the staff were great and I enjoyed it with a good team of people doing it with me.”
In the sweltering heat, the group made their way up to the top at 52 metres above the ground, with group member Katy playing the Last Post on the Bugle as a nod to those they were raising the money for.
There are Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs across the country, giving local veterans and serving personnel a network local to them. This helps reduce isolation and allows those who attend a sense of belonging similar to what they had in the Armed Forces.
The Shrewsbury Club had initially aimed to raise £5,000 between them, but have now changed that to £10,000 and are on track having raised just over £9,000 so far!
Group member Emma Crideford said: “Clive is such an inspirational man and someone who proves that having a disability does not hold you back. I felt proud to be supporting Blesma knowing the money we raised will be put towards helping change someone’s life. If I could sum the day up in one word it would be ‘exhilarating’.”
Donations can be made to the team’s page here.
