Blesma Members recently took part in an indoor climbing session at the Big Depot Climbing Centre in Leeds, in an event designed to challenge physical limits, encourage problem-solving, and boost confidence. The day was organised by Blesma’s Outreach Officers in the North West and North East, Catherine Green and Heather Plowright, with instruction provided by Blesma Member Dan Bottomley.
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The sport of indoor climbing, or bouldering, is growing rapidly in the UK, with more than one million people now regularly participating. Indoor climbing walls are increasingly common in towns and cities and are known for providing not only physical exercise but also opportunities for mental focus and resilience. With Blesma’s commitment to empowering injured veterans, it was a natural fit to explore the sport.
Dan Bottomley, a qualified Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and former Royal Marines Commando, led the day. Dan lost a foot and several fingertips after stepping on an IED while serving in Afghanistan in 2008. Now the founder of Summit for Success, he offered Members expert guidance throughout the session.
“I thought this would make a great activity for Members, so I got in touch with Outreach Officers Catherine and Heather,” said Dan. “The aim was to give Members a taste of climbing and some basic skills, so if they wanted to come back with their families, they had the fundamentals. Climbing is not prescriptive because everyone has to adapt to a changing situation – whether you are short, tall or missing a limb, you have to make it work. Climbing is like a jigsaw, and you need to figure out how to fit the pieces together.”
Frank Yates, a left-leg below-knee amputee and Royal Corps of Signals veteran, was among the participants. The experience, he said, was transformative.
“It was fantastic. I never thought I would be able to do anything like this,” he said. “Sometimes, I automatically think I can’t do something because of my leg, but Blesma shows me that I can.
“I relished the challenge of the wall and seeing if I could do it, and we had excellent coaching from Dan. The toughest part was thinking about where I could position my prosthetic before making the next move. Everybody has different foot systems for their prosthetics, so it is about finding what works for you, and I really enjoyed the mental challenge of working out the weight distribution and positioning. It was a brilliant experience!”
Frank, 42, from Pontefract, Yorkshire, works as a motor trade manager. He added:
“The great thing is that we learned skills we could use with our families. My 12-year-old daughter loves this sort of challenge, and now I have the confidence to come back with her and enjoy the experience. I’ve been lucky enough to do a few things with Blesma that have taken me out of my comfort zone and ended up proving to me that I can do more. I really enjoy that!”
All participants were harnessed and supervised at all times, practising their techniques in a safe and supported environment. Outreach Officer Heather Plowright said the event was particularly meaningful because it was delivered by a fellow Member.
“It was a great day, and the fact that it was led by one of our Members made it extra special,” she said. “Dan runs his own company that specialises in outdoor activities, and he had climbed at this centre with his Army mates before he was injured. It was an amazing thing for him to do and it was great for the Members because it helped build their confidence, and they have picked up skills to be able to come back and do it with their children. It was a fantastic event to be involved in.”
The number of visits to UK climbing walls has surged by 58% in the past four years, with further attention brought to the sport following 19-year-old British climber Tony Roberts’ gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Events like this one show how climbing can be a highly adaptable and rewarding pursuit for Blesma Members, combining both mental and physical engagement.
Gavin Osbourne, who was injured in 2003 while serving with the Royal Logistic Corps, also joined the session. Gavin lost an eye shortly before deployment to Iraq and has since focused on supporting others through mental health and fitness.
“I had some very dark times after leaving the Army but got help from Op Courage and the veterans mental health team. Then, I was put onto Blesma and everything fell into place,” he said. “With help from the Association, I was able to get more clarity about my life and started to get into fitness again. I call myself a mental health personal trainer and focus on connecting with people who have struggles.
“This was a great day and very well put together with a brilliant instructor. As a personal trainer I love physical challenges, but I’ve never done anything like this before. You could certainly feel it in your forearms a couple of days later!
“Everyone else here is a leg amputee, which brings its own challenges, but my main issue has been depth perception. I’ve got used to living my life with one eye, but being in this situation is a first – the footholds seemed further away or closer than they actually were, and that was a real mental challenge.
“Trying a new experience is always great though, and to do that while meeting and getting to know other Members was fantastic – being with like-minded people is one of the great things about Blesma.”
